Itirivwity  of  f onttoytvania 


PROCEEDINGS 


PUBLIC  INAUGURATION 


OF  THE 


BUILDING  ERECTED  FOR  THE 


DEPARTMENTS  OF  ARTS  AND  OF  SCIENCE, 


October  II,  1872. 


WITH  THE 

ADDRESSES  MADE  ON  THE  MORNING  AND  EVENING  OF  THAT  DAY: 

TO  WHICH  IS  ADDED 

A MEMORIAL  NOTICE 

OF 

Professor  JOHN  F.  FRAZER,  LL.D. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

COLLINS,  PRINTER,  705  JAYNE  STREET. 

1872. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2017  with  funding  from 

University  of  Illinois  Urbana-Champaign  Alternates 


https://archive.org/details/proceedingsatpubOOjame 


INTRODUCTION. 


The  Trustees  of  the  University  confided  to  the  Build- 
ing Committee  the  arrangements  for  the  formal  delivery 
of  the  new  College  Building;  to  the  Faculties  of  the 
Departments  of  Arts  and  of  Science. 

The  Committee,  impressed  with  the  importance  of  the 
objects  sought  to  be  accomplished  by  the  improved  and 
enlarged  organization  of  the  Institution,  made  such 
preparations  as  would  provide  an  imposing  public  cere- 
monial in  which  the  Trustees,  the  Faculties,  and  the 
Alumni  should  take  prominent  parts.  This  ceremonial 
occupied  the  morning  of  the  11th  of  October,  and  was 
honored  with  the  presence  of  a large  and  highly  re- 
spectable audience.  In  the  evening  a social  gathering 
was  held,  at  which  representatives  from  several  of  the 
sister  colleges  and  universities  of  the  country  were  pre- 
sent, as  well  as  citizens  of  various  professions  and  busi- 
ness pursuits,  who  came  together  to  discuss  in  an  in- 
formal way  the  progress  which  the  cause  of  liberal 
education  was  making  in  this  country,  and  to  encourage 
each  other  in  the  good  work. 

On  Saturday  the  building  was  thrown  open  for  the 
inspection  of  the  public  generally,  and  thus  the  Com- 
mittee endeavored  to  fulfil  the  object  of  their  special 
appointment. 

It  was  deemed  important  that  the  history  of  the  cere- 
monies should  be  fully  reported  and  printed,  and,  in 
making  up  such  a record,  it  has  been  thought  best  that 


4 


some  extended  notice  of  the  arrangements  which  led  to 
the  establishment  of  the  new  courses  of  instruction 
should  be  given. 

Although  for  more  than  a century  the  College  and 
University  had  been  offering  to  the  public  all  the 
usual  courses  of  study  pursued  in  such  institutions,  and 
had  often  extended  and  varied  them  to  meet  the  exi- 
gencies of  the  times,  but  little  real  progrees  was  made 
until  Professor  Charles  J.  Stille  became  a member  of 
the  Faculty  of  Arts  in  the  year  1866.  He  immediately 
called  the  attention  of  the  Faculty  and  of  the  members 
of  the  Board  of  Trustees  to  the  deficiencies  in  the 
courses  then  pursued,  and  to  those  enlargements  and 
improvements  which  were  demanded  by  the  public  and 
which  had  already  been  introduced  into  certain  well- 
known  institutions  at  home  and  abroad. 

He  inspired  his  colleagues  and  the  Trustees  with  con- 
fidence in  his  views,  devoted  his  time  and  energies  to 
the  preparation  of  the  plans  for  carrying  them  into  exe- 
cution, and  finally  succeeded  in  securing  their  adoption. 

The  election  of  Hr.  Stille  to  the  Provostship  of  the 
University  in  1868,  placed  him  before  the  public  in  a 
position  of  more  than  ordinary  responsibility.  Harvard, 
Columbia,  Princeton,  and  other  institutions  had  been 
awakened  to  fresh  efforts,  and  their  newly  chosen  Presi- 
dents had  exerted  their  great  influence  in  favor  of  an 
improved  and  enlarged  system. 

Hr.  Stille  felt  that  our  University  ought  to  occupy  a 
rank  and  position  quite  equal  to  that  of  its  elder  sisters, 
and  he  has  labored  with  unwearied  perseverance  for 
such  a result. 

While  he  has  the  satisfaction  of  finding  his  labors 
appreciated  by  his  colleagues,  the  Trustees,  and  the  pub- 
lic, it  seems  proper  thus  publicly  to  acknowledge  the 
extent  and  value  of  his  services,  and  to  express  the  hope 
that  he  may  long  be  spared  to  administer  the  affairs  of 


5 


the  University  on  the  broad  and  comprehensive  scale 
for  which  he  has  so  persistently  contended. 

Our  days  of  rejoicing  were  closed  by  a sad  bereave- 
ment. One  who  had  for  nearly  thirty  years  filled  the 
chair  of  Physical  Science  with  almost  unrivalled  ability, 
and  was  loved  and  honored  by  every  student  who  had 
enjoyed  his  instruction,  was  suddenly  struck  down  by 
death.  He  had  fondly  hoped  that  in  the  wider  range 
that  was  to  be  given  to  scientific  studies  he  should  con- 
tinue to  take  an  important  and  active  part. 

But  by  a dispensation  of  Providence,  to  which  we 
must  bow  submissively,  he  has  been  taken  away,  and 
we  have  in  deep  sorrow  to  add  to  the  memorial  of  our 
inaugural  ceremonies  the  proceedings  held  by  the  Fa- 
culties and  the  Alumni,  in  which  they  affectionately 
commemorate  the  services  of  Professor  Frazer,  and  pay 
deserved  honor  to  his  character  and  worth. 


w 


t 


r The  building  erected  by  the  Trustees  of  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania  on  Locust  Street 
between  Thirty-fourth  and  Thirty-sixth  Streets, 
designed  for  the  .accommodation  of  the  Depart- 
ments of  Arts  and  of  Science,  was  opened  for  the 
reception  of  students  at  the  beginning  of  the 
College  year,  September  16,  1872.  It  was  hoped 
that  the  preparations  made  for  their  instruction 
in  both  Departments  would  then  be  fully  com- 
pleted, but  it  was  found,  that,  notwithstanding 
the  great  efforts  which  had  been  made,  the  labora- 
tories, the  museums,  the  library,  and  some  of  the 
other  rooms  were  not  entirely  fitted  up  and  fur- 
nished by  that  time.  The  formal  inauguration 
or  dedication  of  the  building  was  therefore  post- 
poned until  Friday,  October  11,  1872.  On  that 
day  the  Trustees  invited  many  prominent  gentle- 
men of  this  city  and  distinguished  strangers  to 


8 


be  present  at  the  opening  ceremonies.  It  was  a 
matter  of  regret  that  so  many  of  the  officers  of 
foreign  Colleges  who  had  been  invited  were  pre- 
vented from  attending  by  the  pressure  of  official 
duties  at  home.  The  Trustees  were  honored, 
however,  by  the  presence  of  Henry  Coppee, 
LL.D.,  President  of  Lehigh  University,  of  the 
Eev.  Dr.  E.  H.  Potter,  President  of  Union  Col- 
lege, Schenectady,  and  of  the  Pev.  Dr.  Shields, 
representing  the  Faculty  of  the  College  of  ~Ne w 
Jersey,  at  Princeton.  A procession  was  formed 
in  the  Library,  composed  of  those  who  were  to 
take  part  in  the  proceedings,  together  with  the 
officers  of  foreign  Colleges,  the  Board  of  Trus- 
tees, the  different  Faculties  of  the  University, 
the  special  guests  of  the  Trustees,  and  the 
Alumni,  and  moved  at  one  o’clock  to  the  Chapel, 
where  seats  had  been  reserved  for  them.  The 
remainder  of  the  Chapel  was  crowded  by  the 
friends  of  the  Professors  and  students,  among 
whom  were  many  ladies. 

The  Pjrovost  then  announced  that  Eight 
Eey.  Bishop  Stevens  would  invoke  the  bless- 
ing of  Almighty  God. 

Bishop  Stevens  then  offered  the  following 
Prayer : — 


9 


THE  PRAYER. 

Almighty  and  Everlasting  God,  the  fountain 
of  all  goodness,  we  adore  thee  as  the  One  living 
and  true  God,  infinite  in  all  thine  attributes  and 
perfections,  and  worthy  of  the  humble  worship  of 
all  created  beings.  To  thee  all  Angels  cry  aloud ; 
the  Heavens  and  all  the  powers  therein.  To  thee 
Cherubim  and  Seraphim  continually  do  cry,  Holy, 
Holy,  Holy,  Lord  God  of  Sabbaoth,  Heaven  and 
Earth  are  full  of  the  majesty  of  thy  glory.  The 
glorious  company  of  the  Apostles  praise  thee; 
the  goodly  fellowship  of  the  Prophets  praise 
thee.  The  noble  army  of  Martyrs  praise  thee. 
The  Holy  Church  throughout  all  the  world  doth 
acknowledge  thee,  the  Father  Everlasting. 

We  come  before  thee  to  ask  thy  blessing  upon 
this  University.  May  it  be  a fountain  of  sound 
wisdom  and  learning,  wherein  many  generations 
of  youthful  minds  shall  be  nurtured  and  disci- 
plined in  all  wholesome  science,  literature,  and  art. 
Grant  unto  the  Trustees  the  spirit  of  wise  govern- 
ance in  the  fulfilment  of  their  trust.  Be  with 
thy  servant  the  Provost ; direct  and  strengthen 
him  as  the  executive  head  of  this  institution; 
enlighten  him  as  an  instructor ; make  him  judi- 
cious as  a counsellor ; and  make  him  the  friend 
and  the  guide  of  the  youth  committed  to  his  care. 
Give  to  all  the  officers  fidelity  and  zeal,  dili- 
gence and  prudence,  firmness  and  patience  in 
2 


10 


the  performance  of  their  several  duties.  Let 
also  the  riches  of  thy  grace  and  goodness  de- 
scend upon  all  the  students  who  shall  resort 
hither.  May  they  improve  with  careful  diligence 
the  great  opportunities  of  mental  culture  here 
furnished,  and  be  preserved  from  all  error,  vice, 
and  immorality,  and  by  thy  Holy  Spirit  be  effectu- 
ally restrained  from  sin  and  excited  to  duty ; and, 
as  they  are  set  in  the  midst  of  so  many  and  great 
dangers  that  by  reason  of  the  frailty  of  their 
natures  they  cannot  always  stand  upright,  grant 
them  such  strength  and  protection  as  may  sup- 
port them  in  all  dangers,  and  carry  them  through 
all  temptations,  and  finally  bring  them  into  thy 
Heavenly  Kingdom.  These  things,  O Heavenly 
Father,  and  whatever  else  thou  shalt  see  neces- 
sary and  convenient  to  us,  we  humbly  beg 
through  the  merits  and  mediation  of  thy  Son 
Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.  To  whom  with  thee  and 
the  Holy  Ghost  be  all  honor  and  glory,  world 
without  end.  Amen. 


' 


11 


ADDRESS  OF  WILLIAM  SELLERS,  Esq., 

Chairman  of  the  Building  Committee. 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen: — 

We  have  assembled  here  to-day  to  deliver  to 
the  Faculties  of  the  Department  of  Arts  and  of 
the  new  Department  of  Science  of  the  University 
of  Pennsylvania,  a building  designed  for  their 
use;  commenced  when  it  was  at  least  doubtful 
whether  our  means  would  justify  the  necessary 
expenditure,  but  in  compliance  with  an  urgent 
demand  for  increased  accommodation.  This  de- 
mand could  not  be  neglected,  as  the  requirement 
for  enlarged  courses  of  instruction  was  forcing 
our  youth  to  distant  colleges,  whilst  the  field  in 
which  the  knowledge  sought  could  be  best  ob- 
tained, and,  when  acquired,  could  be  best  utilized, 
was  at  our  very  doors. 

The  first  step  in  this  work  is  now  happily  ac- 
complished; others,  and  most  important  ones,  yet 
remain  to  be  taken;  but  before  entering  upon 
these  it  may  be  well  to  note  the  events  which 
have  led  us  to  this  result,  that  if  possible  we  may 
find  encouragement  for  the  work  yet  before  us. 

The  preliminary  movement,  which  has  shown 
its  first  fruits  in  the  building  now  before  us,  was 
taken  at  a meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  held 
January  1,  1867,  when  a report  was  presented 
from  a special  committee,  previously  appointed, 


12 


to  consider  certain  changes  in  the  course  of  in- 
struction in  the  Department  of  Arts.  This  re- 
port, after  considering  the  condition  of  the  De- 
partment, called  attention  to  the  great  need  of 
placing  the  Department  of  Agriculture,  Arts, 
Mines,  and  Manufactures  (the  work  in  which  had 
long  been  suspended)  on  a proper  basis,  and  re- 
commended that  a committee  should  be  appointed 
to  solicit  contributions  to  a new  endowment,  to 
enable  the  board  to  enlarge  the  instruction  given 
in  the  Department  of  Arts,  and  also  to  reorgan- 
ize the  Department  of  Agriculture,  Arts,  Mines, 
and  Manufactures.  This  recommendation  was 
adopted,  and  a committee  appointed.  On  the  6th 
of  June,  1868,  a resolution  was  passed  by  the 
Board  of  Trustees,  requesting  the  Committee  on 
endowment  to  inquire  into  the  expediency  of  re- 
moving the  University  from  its  site  in  Ninth 
Street,  and  to  report  where  a desirable  location 
could  be  found. 

On  the  8th  of  October,  1868,  the  Committee 
presented  an  elaborate  report,  recommending  the 
removal,  and  the  purchase,  if  possible,  of  a por- 
tion of  what  was  known  as  the  Almshouse  farm, 
in  West  Philadelphia. 

On  the  27th  of  October,  1868,  the  Board  ap- 
pointed a Committee  for  the  purpose  of  nego- 
tiating with  the  city  of  Philadelphia  for  the 
purchase  of  from  thirty  to  fifty  acres  of  land  in 
West  Philadelphia,  part  of  the  property  occupied 
as  a farm  for  the  city  Almshouse.  This  com- 


13 


mittee  consisted  of  Messrs.  Fraley,  McCall,  Lex, 
Dr.  Norris,  Cresson,  Welsh,  and  Judge  Strong. 

On  the  4th  of  January,  1870,  the  Committee 
reported  that  after  a protracted  negotiation  with 
the  city  authorities,  they  had  obtained  the  pas- 
sage of  an  ordinance  whereby  the  city  sold  to 
the  Trustees  of  the  University  a piece  of  ground 
(the  present  site)  in  West  Philadelphia,  contain- 
ing ten  and  a quarter  acres,  for  eight  thousand 
dollars  per  acre,  and  on  the  same  day  the  Board 
passed  resolutions  ratifying  the  purchase.  On 
the  21st  day  of  May,  1870,  the  deed  to  the  Trus- 
tees was  duly  executed  by  the  Mayor  of  the  city, 
Hon.  D.  M.  Fox,  and  the  consideration  money, 
$82,184,  paid.  This  amount  was  raised  partly 
by  mortgage  and  partly  by  applying  to  the  same 
purpose  the  loans  of  the  United  States  and  the 
city  of  Philadelphia,  held  by  the  Trustees. 

On  the  1st  of  March,  1870,  the  Committee  on 
the  Department  of  Agriculture,  Arts,  Mines, 
and  Manufactures  was  requested  to  report  to  the 
Board  a plan  for  the  improvement  of  the  ground. 
This  Committee  called  to  their  aid  the  instructor 
of  drawing  in  the  University,  Mr.  T.  W.  Richards, 
and  on  the  3d  day  of  May,  1870,  laid  before  the 
Board  the  general  features  of  a plan  for  the  new 
University  building,  which  would  secure  ample 
accommodations  for  both  the  Departments  of 
Arts  and  the  Department  of  Science.  On  the 
10th  day  of  May,  the  general  features  of  the 
plans  presented  were  approved  by  the  Board,  and 
referred  back  to  the  Committee  for  completion. 


14 


On  the  25th  of  May,  at  the  request  of  the  Com- 
mittee, the  Board  reconsidered  its  resolutions 
approving  the  plans,  and  resolved  to  authorize 
the  Committee  to  invite  plans,  specifications,  and 
estimates  from  the  architects  of  this  city.  A 
prize  of  $800  was  offered  to  the  first  in  merit, 
$400  to  the  second,  and  $300  to  the  third. 

On  the  20th  of  September,  the  Committee  pre- 
sented plans  to  the  Board  from  Mr.  "Windrim  and 
Mr.  Richards,  both  of  such  merit  that  the  Board 
resolved  to  divide  the  first  and  second  premiums 
equally  between  them.  Mr.  T.  "W.  Richards  was 
at  this  meeting  elected  the  architect. 

As  neither  plan  exactly  met  the  views  of  the 
Committee  and  the  Board,  they  were  at  this 
meeting  referred  back  to  the  Committee  to  report 
a revised  plan,  accompanied  by  proposals  from 
contractors  for  the  completion  of  the  same. 

Under  the  supervision  of  the  Committee,  Mr. 
Richards  proceeded  to  prepare  a revised  plan; 
and  on  the  28th  of  February,  1871,  it  was  laid 
before  the  Board,  together  with  the  proposals 
and  estimates  of  thirteen  contractors. 

The  Board  resolved  to  adopt  the  plan,  and 
awarded  the  contract  to  Messrs.  Wm.  Struthers 
& Sons,  for  the  sum  of  $231,900,  the  building  to 
be  completed  by  the  1st  of  August,  1872. 

Of  the  manner  in  which  the  architect  has  exe- 
cuted his  work  as  an  artist,  you  to-day  can  form 
your  own  opinion ; but  of  his  energy,  devotion, 
and  conscientiousness,  which  have  contributed 
so  much  to  the  general  result,  the  members  of  the 


15 


Committee  who  have  been  in  constant  inter- 
course with  him  are  the  best,  as  they  are  the 
most  willing,  witnesses. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Board  held  March  7th, 
1871,  a Building  Committee  was  appointed,  con- 
sisting of  Messrs.  Sellers,  Cresson,  Fraley,  Henry, 
"Welsh,  Browne,  and  Merrick;  and  on  the  15th 
of  June,  1871,  the  corner  stone  of  the  new  build- 
ing was  laid  with  appropriate  ceremonies.  On 
the  17th  of  September,  1872,  the  building  as  it 
now  stands  was  accepted  by  the  Committee  from 
the  contractor,  and  the  work  of  completing  the 
furnishing  for  its  intended  purpose  has  been  for- 
warded as  rapidly  as  possible,  under  the  super- 
vision of  the  architect.  During  the  construc- 
tion it  was  found  necessary  to  make  certain 
additions  amounting  to  $4010t4o6q;  so  that  the 
cost  of  the  entire  building,  exclusive  of  the 
special  fittings  required  for  the  different  labora- 
tories, museums,  cabinets,  and  the  furniture,  has 
been  $235,910T4oV 

The  design  of  the  building  is  what  is  known 
as  Collegiate  Gothic.  The  structure  consists  of 
a main  central  building,  with  connecting  eastern 
and  western  wings,  which  are  completed  by 
towers. 

The  front  is  on  Locust  Street,  and  extends 
254  feet  in  length,  by  a depth  of  102  feet  2 
inches.  These  measurements  are  exclusive  of 
towers,  bay  windows,  buttresses,  &c.  By  the 
projection  of  the  central  building  there  is  an  ad- 
dition to  the  depth  at  that  point  of  21  feet  10 


16 


inches;  the  whole  depth  at  the  centre  being  124 
feet.  The  western  wing  has  been  arranged  for 
the  use  of  the  Department  of  Arts,  the  eastern 
for  that  of  the  Department  of  Science,  whilst 
certain  portions  of  the  centre  building  are  in- 
tended for  the  common  use  of  both  departments, 
such  as  the  Chapel,  Library,  Assembly-room,  &c. 
Beside  these,  the  building  contains  sixteen  rooms, 
devoted  to  instruction  in  Chemistry  and  its  appli- 
cations, four  to  Physics,  six  to  Geology  and  Min- 
ing, four  to  Civil  and  Mechanical  Engineering, 
three  to  Drawing,  three  to  Mathematics,  one  each 
to  English  Literature,  History,  Intellectual  and 
Moral  Philosophy,  Greek,  Latin,  French,  Ger- 
man, Rhetoric,  and  Oratory.  The  Laboratories 
have  been  fitted  up  with  the  most  complete 
modern  apparatus  and  models;  museums  and 
other  approved  means  of  illustration  have  been 
abundantly  provided. 

The  object  of  the  Trustees  has  been  to  con- 
struct a building  which  would  give  the  largest 
and  most  convenient  accommodation  for  the  pur- 
poses of  instruction  in  both  departments.  Ac- 
cording to  the  present  system  of  instruction  in 
the  Application  of  Science  to  the  Arts,  a large 
number  of  rooms  is  required  to  illustrate  fully 
the  various  processes ; and  the  Committee  have 
not  hesitated  for  such  purposes  to  provide  accom- 
modations which  they  believe  are  as  ample  as 
those  to  be  found  in  any  similar  institution  in 
this  country.  Such  arrangements  are  necessarily 


17 


costly,  but  the  constant  desire  of  the  Trustees 
has  been  to  do  this  work  thoroughly  and  well. 

While  such  extensive  arrangements  have  been 
made  for  instruction  in  the  new  Department  of 
Science,  the  Committee  has  not  neglected  the 
claims  of  the  other  department,  the  oldest  in  the 
University,  that  of  Arts.  Large  recitation  and 
lecture-rooms,  well-lighted  and  ventilated,  have 
been  provided  for  the  classes  who  attend  the  in- 
struction given  by  the  professors  in  this  Depart- 
ment. All  that  has  been  done  has  been  under- 
taken with  a view  of  affording  to  young  men  the 
best  opportunity  of  receiving  the  highest  train- 
ing in  the  various  branches  of  a liberal  education. 

In  order  to  carry  out  fully  the  intentions  of 
the  Trustees,  the  older  department  has  been  im- 
proved, enlarged,  and  rendered  more  efficient ; 
while  a system  of  instruction  has  been  carefully 
matured  for  the  new,  based  upon  the  experience 
of  the  most  successful  schools  of  science  in  the 
country,  and  differing  in  some  respects  from  any. 
To  insure  the  success  of  all  our  plans,  gentlemen 
of  the  highest  reputation  as  men  of  science  have 
been  selected  as  professors  in  the  new  school,  and 
they  are  now  giving  their  zealous  co-operation  in 
completing  our  work. 

But  something  more  is  needed  besides  a com- 
modious building  and  a learned  and  zealous  body 
of  professors.  The  expenditure  of  money,  where 
preparations  have  been  made  upon  so  liberal  a 
scale,  must  necessarily  be  large.  The  funds  re- 
quired for  the  erection  and  furnishing  of  the 


18 


building  were  obtained  by  creating  a mortgage 
of  $300,000  upon  all  the  property  of  the  Univer- 
sity. It  was  expected  that  this  debt  would  be 
discharged  whenever  the  Ninth  Street  property 
could  be  disposed  of,  and  it  is  believed  this  will 
be  accomplished  at  an  early  day.  It  was  hoped 
that  the  largely  increased  expenditure  which  the 
new  course  of  instruction  will  entail  upon  us 
would  be  supplied  by  our  endowment  fund,  hut  I 
regret  to  say  this  is  not  yet  what  we  had  hoped 
for ; we  feel  assured,  however,  that,  having  now 
provided  ample  accommodations  and  large  facili- 
ties for  instruction,  the  necessary  means  for  car- 
rying on  our  work  in  a liberal  manner  will  not  be 
withheld. 

And  now,  Mr.  Provost  and  gentlemen  of  the 
faculties,  I hand  over  our  work  to  your  care  and 
use,  and,  in  so  doing,  permit  me  to  thank  you  for 
the  assistance  you  have  thus  far  rendered  us,  and 
to  promise  for  you,  in  advance,  the  thanks  of  all 
men,  as  the  importance  of  your  labors  and  the 
zeal  with  which  you  discharge  your  duties  be- 
come apparent  to  them. 


19 


PROVOST’S  ADDRESS. 

Mr.  Chairman  and  Gentlemen 

of  the  Board  of  Trustees  : — 

The  Faculties  of  the  Department  of  Arts  and 
of  the  Department  of  Science  desire  to  join  most 
heartily  in  the  congratulations  which  are  so  fit- 
ting on  this  auspicious  occasion.  What  has  been 
to  many  of  us  a long-cherished  dream  has  at  last 
assumed  the  shape  of  a living,  actual  reality. 

To-day  we  come  before  the  world  with  the 
formal  announcement  that  we  have  here  at  last  a 
true  University,  complete  in  all  its  parts,  in 
which  men  may  receive  in  all  the  various  depart- 
ments of  human  knowledge  that  training  and 
liberal  culture  which  shall  fit  them  to  be  the 
leaders  and  guides  of  their  fellow-men.  Such 
an  event  is  not  only  memorable  in  the  history  of 
the  University,  but  it  is  also  one,  if  rightly  ap- 
prehended, of  great  significance  in  the  history  of 
the  community  in  which  we  live.  For,  if  it  be 
true  that  we  have  here  and  now  a University  able 
and  ready  to  do  the  work  which  such  an  institu- 
tion should  do,  and  the  people  of  Philadelphia 
are  fully  impressed  with  that  belief,  then,  indeed, 
it  is  not  easy  to  exaggerate  the  importance  of 
the  event,  or  over-estimate  the  far-reaching  re- 
sults of  what  has  been  done,  to  us  and  to  those 
who  are  to  come  after  us. 


20 


The  work  of  which  we  celebrate  to-day  the 
completion  was  begun,  gentlemen,  by  your  pre- 
decessors one  hundred  and  seventeen  years  ago, 
for  the  germ  which  your  labors  have  developed 
is  found  in  the  plan  of  the  “ College  or  Seminary 
of  Universal  Learning,”  chartered  in  1755.  In 
its  earlier  years,  as  was  natural,  the  fruit  borne 
by  the  tree  which  sprang  from  that  germ  was  not 
very  abundant,  but,  such  a^  it  was,  it  was  the 
choicest  then  grown  on  American  soil. 

In  1765,  that  illustrious  body,  the  Medical 
Faculty  of  the  University — illustrious  from  the 
fame  of  its  founders  and  teachers,  and  illustrious 
from  the  great  number  of  eminent  men  who,  for 
more  than  a century,  have  received  their  earliest 
professional  training  from  it — was  organized. 
Still  later,  in  1789,  the  trustees,  keeping  in  full 
view  the  University  idea,  established  another 
learned  Faculty,  that  of  the  Law  Department. 
It  needed  but  one  more  link  to  complete  the 
circle  of  the  human  sciences  (for  with  Theology, 
Scientia  divina , our  charter  forbade  us  to  inter- 
meddle), and  that  was  a department  in  which 
the  sciences  of  nature  should  be  taught  in  their 
applications  to  the  arts  of  life.  The  organization 
of  such  a department  has  seemed  to  you  not 
only  the  natural  outgrowth  of  the  true  Univer- 
sity principle,  but  as  eminently  fitting  for  the 
needs  of  the  times. 

We  celebrate  to-day  not  merely  your  fulfil- 
ment of  the  promise  held  out  by  our  earliest 
charter,  but,  when  you  dedicate  this  noble  build- 


21 


in g to  the  use  of  the  two  Faculties,  we  gladly 
hail  it  as  the  strongest  proof  of  the  earnestness 
of  your  desire,  that  that  promise  shall  he  kept  in 
the  largest  and  most  liberal  way.  What  has 
been  done  in  the  erection  of  this  building  to  aid 
us  to  make  our  work  here  true,  and  real,  and 
fruitful,  each  one  who  hears  me  to-day  may 
judge  for  himself. 

My  colleagues  and  myself  know  something  of 
the  unwearied  zeal  and  devotion  you  have  brought 
to  the  accomplishment  of  this  task.  We  know 
that  you  have  given  us  here  convenient  means  of 
instruction  unsurpassed  anywhere  in  this  coun- 
try. We  know  that  you  have  been  in  constant 
and  active  sympathy  with  all  our  needs,  and  our 
hearts  gratefully  respond  to  all  that  has  been 
done  for  us.  We  are  fully  sensible  that  the 
hopes  which  you  cherish  for  the  success  of  your 
great  enterprise  rest  mainly  on  your  firm  belief, 
that  we,  who  are  the  teachers  here,  are  imbued 
with  something  of  your  own  earnestness  and  en- 
thusiasm. You  have  rightly  judged;  we  shall 
help  you  to  reap  the  reward  you  seek — the  only 
possible  reward  for  such  unselfish  toil — the  con- 
sciousness that  those  for  whose  sake  it  has  all 
been  done  are  enjoying  fully  the  fruit  of  your 
labors. 

We  accept,  then,  the  trust  which  you  have  im- 
posed upon  us,  and  which  you  have  given  us  such 
ample  means  of  executing.  To  these  stately 
halls  an  unexpectedly  large  number  of  }roung 
men,  attracted  by  what  you  have  done  for  them, 


22 


have  already  come ; and  there  is  no  reason  to 
doubt  that  an  increasing  number  will  follow  them 
when  it  is  known  how  liberally  you  have  pro- 
vided for  an  ever-increasing  need.  Be  it  ours  to 
train  these  young  men  in  a knowledge  and  love 
of  Truth,  of  Bight,  and  of  Duty.  Let  us  not 
merely  unfold  to  them  the  mysteries  of  nature, 
but  let  us  teach  them  something  of  that  grand 
central  figure  in  nature’s  realm,  of  man,  his  capa- 
cities, his  history,  his  responsibilities,  his  destiny, 
that  so  they  may  be  led  to  attain  to  that  higher 
knowledge  concerning  the  power  and  beneficence 
of  the  Almighty  Being  by  whom  and  in  whom 
both  nature  and  man  live,  and  move,  and  have 
their  being.  Thus  shall  we  best  complete  the 
work  which  you  have  begun,  and  erect  the  most 
enduring  monument  to  commemorate  your  labors. 


23 


ADDRESS  OF  PROFESSOR  LESLEY, 

Dean  of  the  Faculty  of  the  Department  of  Science. 

Gentlemen  of  the  Board  of  Trustees: — 

’Whatever  is  good  and  beautiful  is  worthy  of 
respect  and  atfection  without  comparison;  and 
the  good  and  beautiful  are  of  all  ages,  the  com- 
mon property  of  mankind,  of  common  origin, 
and  harmonious.  Philosophy,  Belles-lettres,  and 
Physical  Science  have  always  been  fruit  of  the 
same  tree.  To  observe,  to  speculate,  to  experi- 
ment, and  to  construct  are  cognate  and  coequal 
faculties  of  mind.  In  the  dim  dawn  of  history 
we  discern  their  complicated  phenomena.  No 
man  was  ever  more  practical  than  Confucius  the 
father  of  Chinese  letters.  Medicine,  Chemistry, 
Architecture,  Dentistry,  Mining,  Engineering, 
and  Metallurgy  flourished  in  Egypt  under  the 
influence  of  the  most  elaborate  ritual  of  religion, 
while  Pentaour  was  inscribing  his  immortal  poem 
on  the  walls  of  Carnac.  Greece  was  not  more 
glorified  by  Socrates,  Plato,  and  Herodotus,  than 
by  Aristotle,  Anaximander,  Democritus,  and  the 
physicists  who  made  collections  of  fossils,  and 
engineers  who  mined  the  lead  veins  of  Laurium. 
Poetry,  history,  chemistry,  and  the  principles  of 
the  mechanic  arts  flourished  equally  and  together 
under  the  califfs  of  Bagdad  and  the  sheriffs  of 
Cordova.  And  when  the  long  and  slow  proces- 


24 


sion  of  human  knowledge  reached  western  and 
northern  Europe,  gathering  in  its  march  the  trea- 
sures of  fifty  centuries  to  deposit  them  in  univer- 
sities and  museums,  the  laboratories  and  factories 
of  the  modern  Christian  world,  they  were  carried 
together  by  the  same  beasts  of  burden,  and  guided 
by  the  same  pioneers.  In  distributing  the  prizes 
of  renown,  what  judge  could  decide  between 
the  merits  of  Paracelsus  and  Palissy,  between 
Boehme  and  Boerhaave ; between  Eeuchlin  and 
Erasmus  on  one  hand,  and  Verulam,  Da  Vinci, 
Buonarotti,  and  Vasari  on  the  other?  Are  not 
the  noblest  men  of  our  own  day  equally  brilliant 
for  imagination  and  science ; for  the  wisdom  of 
practical  life,  and  that  love  of  fair  expression 
which  makes  the  artist  and  the  scholar?  The 
world  is  mature ; it  feels  its  constitutional 
powers ; it  pants  for  action ; it  devises  and  exe- 
cutes a thousand  monuments ; it  criticises  nature, 
subjects  the  elements,  demands  service  and  use 
of  all  things,  inspires  matter  with  its  own  ideas, 
and  sets  the  surface  of  the  earth  to  rights  for  the 
comfort  and  convenience  of  all.  This  is  its  sci- 
ence. These  are  its  physical  sciences. 

But  does  the  manly  time  forget  its  boyhood’s 
days  ? When  was  ever  so  much  loving  thought 
bestowed  on  the  records  of  bygone  times  ? 
Christendom  resounds  with  poetry.  The  nine- 
teenth century  sings  at  its  work.  The  old  the- 
ology is  as  fresh  and  dear  as  ever  to  human 
hearts.  Homer  and  Virgil  can  never  be  sup- 
planted by  Tennyson,  Whittier,  Lowell,  and  Long- 


25 


fellow.  More  scholars  now  busy  themselves  with 
the  ancient  languages  than  in  any  former  age, 
and  translations  of  the  choicest  literature  of  India 
and  China  are  added  to  gratify  the  classical  taste 
of  an  age  most  wrongfully  accused  of  forgetting 
its  old  sweet  joys  to  smother  its  soul  in  a slough 
of  gross  materialism.  This  age  of  new-born 
sciences  is  also  an  age  of  philosophies  born  again. 
That  apparent  opposition  to  science,  of  which  we 
sometimes  hear  complaints,  is  neither  more  nor 
less  than  the  inextinguishable  affection  of  the 
intellect  of  our  race  for  all  noble  thinking,  for  ail 
exquisite  expression,  for  the  ideal  and  the  abso- 
lute outside  the  limits  of  experimental  demon- 
stration. Darwinism  itself  is  but  an  unconscious 
inward  reaction  against  the  supremacy  of  the 
microscope  of  the  naturalist  and  the  chemist’s 
scales.  After  all  our  nomenclatures  have  been 
formulated ; after  all  the  laws  of  nature  have 
been  proved  by  facts,  fresh  outbursts  of  the 
heart  of  the  scholar  astonish  the  sciences,  and 
the  deep  fires  of  aesthetic  sentiment  are  seen  pre- 
serving their  activity.  Men  will  always  be  poets. 
The  University  will  never  abandon  its  “ humani- 
ties.” No  incomings  of  physical  science  can 
exile  or  dethrone  learning.  But  as  by  the  varied 
immigrations  to  this  new  world  a higher  composite 
society  obtains  existence,  so  the  harmonious  in- 
terfusion of  learning  and  science  lifts  the  modern 
University  into  a region  of  thought,  sentiment, 
and  power  above  all  that  former  ages  have 
thought  possible. 

3 


26 


Gentlemen,  in  enlarging  the  instruction  of  this 
institution,  you  have  obeyed  the  wish  of  the  times. 
In  doubling  the  range  of  its  curriculum  you  have 
placed  it  in  harmony  with  the  spirit  of  education 
elsewhere ; you  have  answered  a lawful  call  of 
this  large  city,  and  of  the  State  to  which  we  owe 
allegiance.  Nor  have  you  moved  in  the  matter 
a day  too  soon.  The  want  of  an  adequate  and 
efficient  apparatus  for  training  the  young  scienti- 
fically for  business,  as  chemists,  architects,  en- 
gineers, geologists,  metallurgists,  superintendents 
of  transportation,  inventors,  and  discoverers  of 
new  forces  and  applicable  powers  in  the  material 
world,  here  in  Philadelphia,  has  been  emphasized 
already  by  the  conspicuous  success  of  our  New 
Department  of  Science.  You  cannot  go  back; 
the  ships  have  been  burnt ; the  enterprise  must 
be  pursued  greatly ; all  eyes  are  already  watch- 
ing your  progress. 

This  is  no  new  idea,  however,  but  only  a fresh 
effort  to  realize  the  original  thoughts  of  the 
founders  of  this  University.  Philadelphia  for 
many  years  has  been  the  acknowledged  principal 
centre  of  physical  science  in  America.  Prom 
the  time  of  Franklin,  names  of  distinction  have 
been  connected  with  its  name ; some  of  them, 
like  Rittenhouse,  Ewing,  Smith,  Bache,  and  Hare, 
were  connected  personally  with  the  University. 
The  principles  of  physical  science  have  always 
been  taught  within  its  walls.  Before  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  late  war,  a special  course  of  scien- 
tific instruction  was  provided  for  those  students 


27 


who  wished  to  fit  themselves  for  the  practical 
arts.  But  no  adequate  accommodations  could  he 
furnished  for  the  purpose  in  the  now  deserted 
building  in  Ninth  Street. 

Here  a new  and  finer  career  is  offered.  We 
have  to  thank  the  generous  enthusiasm  of  en- 
lightened citizens  and  the  persevering  courage  of 
the  Board  of  Trustees  for  making  that  possible 
which  has  been  a long-cherished  dream  of  the 
Alumni  of  our  venerable  college.  Now,  at  last, 
we  have  room  to  work.  Five  chemical  labora- 
tories have  been  given  to  us.  Two  museums  are 
provided  for  the  students’  use,  with  15,000  choice 
specimens  of  minerals  and  fossils.  We  have 
already  begun  to  organize  collections  of  building 
stones,  coals,  ores,  furnace  products,  whatever 
can  illustrate  work  in  the  field,  in  the  furnace, 
and  in  the  mine.  We  are  provided  with  rooms 
for  drawing,  for  the  construction  of  model  build- 
ings and  machinery,  and  the  processes  of  metal- 
lurgy. 

It  is  true  that  months  of  labor  are  still  de- 
manded for  bringing  this  equipment  to  its  high- 
est efficiency,  and  we  need  a hundred  thousand 
dollars  more  to  supplement  it  with  a working 
physical  laboratory,  and  a complete  museum  of 
comparative  zoology  and  American  palaeonto- 
logy, such  as  is  ready  to  be  furnished  on  call  from 
the  great  collections  of  James  Hall,  as  well  as  to 
endow  chairs  of  fossil  botany  and  zoology,  of 
railroad  transportation,  etc.,  to  make  our  faculty 
complete.  But  the  pride  and  sagacity  of  the 


28 


business  men  of  Philadelphia  may  be  relied  on 
not  to  stop  short  of  the  ideal  perfection  of  so  im- 
portant an  instrumentality  for  the  prosperity  of 
the  city. 

Gentlemen,  none  in  our  age  needs  to  be  re- 
minded that  while  the  acts  of  duty  are  fugitive, 
their  consequences  penetrate  time  to  the  remotest 
limits.  How  exalted  then  should  be  our  views  ! 
how  far-reaching  our  plans  ! how  wide  and  deep 
our  comprehension  of  the  useful,  and  how  abso- 
lute our  personal  loyalty  to  the  happy  and  honora- 
ble responsibilities  of  the  times  in  which  God 
casts  our  lot ! Among  the  monuments  our  fathers 
built,  this  University  is  one ; and  so  long  as  it 
can  grow,  like  a royal  palace  of  the  middle  ages, 
by  the  commodious  and  splendid  additions  of 
successive  dynasties,  we  also  may  partake  in  the 
work  of  our  fathers,  and,  like  them,  be  benefac- 
tors of  posterity. 


29 


Hon.  James  E.  Ludlow,  LL.D.,  then  made 
the  presentation  of  the  Memorial  "Windows  and 
Portraits  to  the  Trustees,  and  in  doing  so  said: — 

Gentlemen  of  the  Board  of  Trustees: — 

Auspicious  was  that  day  upon  which  the  Trus- 
tees of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  deter- 
mined to  erect  this  building.  With  wise  fore- 
thought they  selected  this  spot,  and  the  City 
Councils,  with  a liberality  which  will  always  be 
commended,  agreed  to  sell  this  tract  of  land  to 
this  institution  upon  most  liberal  terms.  As  if 
by  magic  the  walls  of  this  beautiful  edifice  have 
been  reared,  and  now  it  stands  an  ornament  to 
the  city,  and  to  be  dedicated  to  the  cause  of  en- 
lightened education.  Massive  as  is  this  struc- 
ture, something  more  had  to  be  accomplished. 
To  be  complete,  its  history,  in  part  at  least,  must 
be  written  upon  its  walls ; this  the  friends  of  the 
institution  determined  to  do,  and  that  work  has 
also  been  completed.  The  thought  was  a happy 
one,  for  among  the  living  you  may  look  for  the  re- 
production of  the  scenes  and  men  of  the  past,  not 
only  upon  the  printed  page,  but  also  on  canvass, 
in  marble,  and  other  works  of  art.  Here,  and  at 
a glance,  shall  the  visitor  learn  of  the  past,  as  it 
is  inseparably  connected  with  this  institution. 
Here,  as  the  eye  falls  upon  each  window  or  upon 
the  walls  of  the  building,  the  mind  will  instinc- 


80 


tively  revert  to  other  days ; a familiar  name  or 
form  suggests  at  once,  not  only  the  actor  hut  that 
which  he  accomplished,  and  thus,  by  the  well- 
known  law  of  association,  history  shall  be  again 
written  as  it  is  connected  with  this  institution. 

In  the  brief  time  allotted  to  me  for  the  prepa- 
ration of  this  discourse,  I can  do  little  more  than 
present  to  you  a sketch  of  the  men  whose  por- 
traits adorn  these  walls,  of  the  meaning  of  these 
memorial  windows,  and  of  the  deeds  which  are 
here  perpetuated. 

The  subject  will  be  treated  in  its  historical  and 
chronological  order. 

And  first  of  all  let  us  turn  to  the  Franklin 
memorial  window — the  gift  of  the  Alumni  of  the 
institution,  in  honor  of  the  founder  of  the  College 
of  Philadelphia. 

Here  and  now  it  is  only  necessary  to  mention 
the  name  of  Benjamin  Franklin.  Who  he  was, 
and  what  he  did  for  science,  for  his  country,  and 
for  the  world  is  known  to  every  boy  in  the  land. 
What  did  he  do  for  us  is  the  point  to  which  we 
shall  direct  your  attention. 

In  1749,  by  the  direct  efforts  of  this  illustrious 
man,  his  friends  subscribed  £800  for  the  endow- 
ment of  an  academy.  A building  had  been 
erected  in  Fourth  Street  below  Arch ; it  was  used 
for  the  school,  and  it  stood  until  very  recently, 
when  it  was  removed,  and  in  its  place  the  pre- 
sent structure  was  built. 

How  well  many  of  you,  with  the  speaker,  re- 
member the  old  Academy;  there  we  received  our 


81 


earliest  education,  and  if  we  did  not  always  re- 
joice  to  enter  its  walls,  it  was  not  because  its 
earliest  history  was  not  dear  to  us. 

In  the  year  1755,  a charter  was  granted  for  the 
“ College,  Academy,  and  Charity  School  of  Phi- 
ladelphia.” An  examination  will  establish  the 
fact  that  this  institution  was  the  sixth  in  order 
of  age  of  all  the  colleges  in  the  United  States, 
William  and  Mary,  Harvard,  Yale,  King’s  (now 
Columbia),  at  New  York,  and  Princeton  being 
the  only  seniors.  Franklin  was  not  only  a Trus- 
tee until  1790,  the  year  of  his  death,  but  when  in 
the  country  devoted  his  time,  his  talents,  and  his 
energies  to  this  institution.  Even  the  early  re- 
cord books  yet  remain  in  his  handwriting  as 
Secretary  of  the  College.  Look  upon  that  por- 
trait and  behold  your  earliest  benefactor  and 
friend.  What  a flood  of  history  pours  in  upon 
us  from  that  memorial  window! 

See  how  upon  the  left  hand  the  artist  has  re- 
produced the  past  with  its  wonderful  story. 

There  is  the  coat  of  arms  of  the  Penn  family, 
by  whom  the  first  charter  was  granted,  a represen- 
tation of  the  devastation  produced  by  lightning, 
and,  last  of  all,  a picture  of  the  hand-press  used 
by  Franklin  in  London. 

Now  gaze  upon  the  right-hand  side  of  the 
window,  and  the  present  is  before  you. 

There  is  the  coat  of  arms  of  the  Common- 
wealth of  Pennsylvania,  by  which  the  present 
charter  was  granted. 

Look  again,  and  you  will  not  see  the  simple 


82 


kite  handled  by  Franklin,  but  a representation  of 
the  telegraph — electricity  made  useful  to  man, 
and  in  place  of  the  old  hand-press  you  will  ob- 
serve that  most  wonderful  production  of  human 
genius,  the  last  improved  steam  printing  press. 
I am  informed  by  a most  competent  judge,  that 
upon  the  machines  now  in  use  in  any  of  our  first- 
class  printing  establishments,  more  than  the 
largest  edition  of  any  newspaper  published  in 
Franklin’s  time  can  be  printed  in  one  minute. 

Reflect  upon  the  past  and  the  present,  think 
only  of  electricity  and  of  the  press,  and  then  tell 
me  if  this  window  does  not  beautifully,  wisely, 
and  justly,  do  honor  to  the  memory  of  the  founder 
of  this  College,  the  immortal  Benjamin  Franklin. 

From  the  window  we  now  turn  to  the  portrait 
of  Rev.  William  Smith,  D.D.,  the  first  Provost 
of  the  College.  The  foremost  scholar  of  his  day 
in  this  province,  it  was  no  wonder  that  Franklin 
called  him  to  the  high  office  of  Provost  in  the 
year  1755,  and  although  his  active  duties  ceased 
because  of  an  attempted  repeal  of  the  charter  in 
1779,  he  held  office  until  the  year  1791.  The 
history  of  Dr.  Smith  is  interwoven  with  the  his- 
tory of  the  College ; as  a preacher  he  was  distin- 
guished for  eloquence,  as  a teacher  he  was  un- 
surpassed, as  a man  he  was  not  only  indefatigable, 
but  what  he  designed  to  do  he  did  with  a will, 
and  with  such  a consummate  skill  that  he  gene- 
rally accomplished  his  object. 

Notwithstanding  the  unfortunate  difficulties 
which  at  one  time  embarrassed  the  Provost  and 


83 


the  institution,  the  minutes  and  acts  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees  prove  that  his  great  merit  was  known, 
and,  to  a certain  extent,  appreciated.  Not  only 
did  Dr.  Smith  devote  his  richly  cultivated  mind 
and  vast  energy  to  the  instruction  of  youth  and 
to  the  every-day  wants  of  the  College,  but,  by 
request  of  the  Trustees,  he  went  abroad,  and  in 
England  raised  £8000  for  the  institution  in  the 
years  1762-3 ; while  by  other  means  and  in  other 
places  he  added  to  this  large  sum  £12,000,  thus 
by  his  individual  efforts  adding  £20,000  to  the 
funds  of  the  College. 

As  may  be  supposed,  students  flocked  to  the 
city,  and  in  1773  as  many  as  three  hundred  pupils 
were  instructed  in  the  collegiate,  medical,  and 
academic  schools. 

ITe  must  not  forget  now  to  turn  our  attention 
to  another  memorial  window.  It  has  been  erected 
in  honor  to  the  Penn  family.  What  more  suita- 
ble place  than  this  could  have  been  selected  to 
perpetuate  the  memory  of  William  Penn?  Of 
comprehensive  views,  boundless  liberality,  large 
benevolence,  and  unswerving  integrity,  William 
Penn  was  a man  imbued  with  deep  religious 
convictions ; he  acted  upon  principle,  and  sought 
by  the  gentlest  means  within  his  power  to  do 
that  which  before  had  been  accomplished  only  by 
the  sword. 

Men  may  differ  as  to  particular  creeds  and 
forms  of  faith.  The  founder  of  this  Common- 
wealth believed  in  and  acted  upon  a system  of 
faith  which  requires  a strong  intellect  to  com- 


34 


prebend,  for,  while  it  dispenses  with  mere  form, 
without  adventitious  aid  it  appeals  directly  to 
the  intellect,  the  heart,  and  the  soul  of  man,  as  it 
deals  with  the  unseen  and  with  things  eternal. 

Here  in  this  metropolis,  in  the  city  which  he 
founded  and  loved,  and  in  this  building  dedicated 
to  the  cause  of  human  knowledge,  let  the  name 
of  the  founder  of  the  Commonwealth  be  held  in 
reverence,  and  his  fame  be  everlasting. 

Of  Thomas  Penn,  a son  of  William,  we  must 
here  speak,  for  the  College  owes  him  a debt  of 
gratitude  it  can  never  repay.  Benjamin  Frank- 
lin and  Dr.  Smith  labored  with  all  their  might, 
but  even  the  efforts  of  these  giants  might  have 
failed  but  for  the  aid  of  Thomas  Penn. 

The  influence  of  this  gentleman  was  freely 
exerted  with  persons  of  rank  and  fortune  in  Eng- 
land, when,  in  1762-3,  Dr.  Smith  raised  a large 
sum  of  money  there,  while  this  munificent  patron 
of  learning  contributed  £4500  in  money,  and  2500 
acres  of  land  in  Bucks  County,  Pennsylvania. 

Hand  down  to  posterity  the  name  of  the  father 
and  son.  What  they  did  for  mankind  will  live 
when  the  sword  shall  be  forgotten ; when  the 
nations  of  the  earth  shall  assemble  as  one 
brotherhood,  and  when  their  several  emblems  of 
power  and  authority  shall  gracefully  descend 
before  the  advancing  banner  of  the  Prince  of 
Peace. 

There  is  another  name  almost  forgotten,  and 
another  window  in  the  main  hall,  by  the  stairway, 
soon  to  be  finished,  which  is  to  be  constructed  in 


35 


honor  of  a man  whose  modest  merit  cannot,  by 
the  learned  world,  be  unknown.  When,  in  1746, 
the  wonderful  properties  of  electricity  were  com- 
paratively unknown,  four  young  men,  Benjamin 
Franklin,  Thomas  Hopkinson,  Philip  Syng,  and 
another,  devoted  their  leisure  moments  to  the  in- 
vestigation of  this  wonderful  subject ; each  made 
discoveries,  and  henceforth  the  name  of  Ebene- 
zer  Kinnersley  became  familiar  to  the  scien- 
tific men  of  Europe. 

Dr.  Franklin,  the  friend  of  Kinnersley,  who 
knew  his  eminent  worth,  induced  him  to  accept 
the  position  of  head  master  in  the  English  school, 
at  the  College  of  Philadelphia,  in  1753,  and  two 
years  afterwards,  to  wit,  on  the  11th  of  July, 
1755,  he  was  chosen  professor  of  the  English 
tongue  and  of  oratory,  a position,  I believe,  after- 
wards held  by  such  men  as  Rev.  Dr.  Jacob 
Duche,  Rev.  Dr.  William  Rogers,  and  our  own 
lamented  Henry  Reed. 

Professor  Kinnersley  continued  to  hold  his 
professorship  until  October  17,  1772,  when  his 
failing  health  caused  him  to  resign  his  office,  and 
on  February  2,  1773,  the  Trustees  passed  a reso- 
lution regretting  his  loss  to  the  College.  Dr. 
Smith,  in  his  eulogy  on  Franklin,  names  Profes- 
sor Kinnersley  as  the  third  professor,  and  then 
adds,  “ there  is  in  the  experiment-room  an  elec- 
trical apparatus,  the  property  of  one  of  the  pro- 
fessors, chiefly  his  own  invention,  and  perhaps 
the  completest  of  its  kind  in  the  world.”  This 
apparatus  was  afterward  purchased  by  the  Trus- 


86 


tees,  and  a part  is,  I think,  still  preserved.  Dr. 
Priestly,  in  his  history  of  electricity  (pp.  187- 
190),  writing  in  1767,  says:  “While  we  are  at- 
tending to  what  was  done  by  I)r.  Franklin  at 
Philadelphia,  we  must  by  no  means  overlook 
what  was  done  by  Mr.  Kinnersley,  the  doctor’s 
friend,”  and  again  “ some  of  his  observations,  of 
which  an  account  is  given  in  the  doctor’s  letters, 
are  very  curious,  and  some  later  accounts  which 
he  himself  has  transmitted  to  England  seem  to 
promise  that,  if  he  continues  his  electrical  in- 
quiries, his  name,  after  that  of  his  friend,  will  be 
second  to  few  in  the  history  of  electricity.” 

Born  in  England  on  the  30th  day  of  Novem- 
ber, 1711,  he,  with  his  father,  a Baptist  clergy- 
man, came  to  America  and  settled  in  Lower 
Dublin,  Pa.  He  was  ordained  as  a Baptist  minis- 
ter in  1743,  but  was  never  the  pastor  of  a church. 
He  died  on  the  4th  day  of  July,  A.  D.  1778,  at 
the  age  of  67  years.  His  remains  are  interred  in 
the  cemetery  attached  to  the  Lower  Dublin  Bap- 
tist Church. 

It  has  thus  come  to  pass,  that  in  this  new 
building,  and  in  an  institution  in  which  he  had 
once  been  an  honored  instructor,  and  to  the  pros- 
perity of  which  he  had  so  greatly  contributed,  a 
grateful  generation,  appreciating  his  modest 
worth,  perpetuates  his  name,  and  deems  it  a pri- 
vilege so  to  do. 

At  this  point  in  these  remarks,  we  pause  to  say 
that  the  windows  and  portraits  heretofore  speci- 


37 


tied,  illustrate  the  pre-revolutionary  history  of 
this  institution. 

Next  in  order  of  time  must  he  named  the 
great  mechanician  and  astronomer,  David  Rit- 
tenhouse.  This  very  remarkable  man  deserves 
something  more  than  a passing  notice. 

He  was  not  only  an  American,  but  a native 
of  this  county,  and  was  born  upon  the  8th  of 
April,  1732,  in  the  then  township  of  Roxborough, 
now  in  the  Twenty-first  Ward  of  the  city  of 
Philadelphia.  His  great-grandfather,  William, 
established,  about  the  year  1690,  the  first  paper- 
mill  in  British  America,  upon  a small  stream 
called  “ Paper-Mill  Run,”  in  Roxborough.  When 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  seventeen  years 
of  age,  he  made  a wooden  clock,  and  soon  after 
constructed  a twenty-four  hour  clock. 

Such  mechanical  genius  could  not  be  over- 
looked or  neglected,  and  his  wise  father  soon 
purchased  for  him  such  tools  as  were  required  in 
the  business  of  clock-making. 

This  natural-born  mechanic  and  man  of  real 
genius,  while  following  his  pursuits,  studied 
mathematics,  and  soon  invented  his  celebrated 
Orrery  or  Planetarium . When  this  wonderful 
piece  of  mechanism  passed  by  purchase,  I believe, 
into  the  possession  of  Princeton  College,  its  re- 
moval was  regarded  as  a public  calamity,  and  a 
new  one  was  ordered  by  the  Legislature  of  the 
State,  to  be  paid  for  at  the  public  expense. 

It  was  presented  to  the  College,  and  now  re- 
mains in  its  possession.  When  the  British  occu- 


pied  Philadelphia,  Sir  ‘William  Howe  detailed  a 
special  guard  to  protect  this  valuable  instrument 
from  possible  injury. 

On  the  7th  of  January,  1769,  the  American 
Philosophical  Society  appointed  the  great  astron- 
omer one  of  thirteen  gentlemen  to  observe  the 
transit  of  V enus  over  the  sun’s  disk,  which  was  to 
take  place  on  the  3d  day  of  June,  1769. 

An  observatory  was  erected  at  Horriton, 
Montgomery  County,  chiefly  for  this  purpose. 
Doctor  William  Smith,  and  John  Lukens,  the 
Surveyor-General  of  the  province,  were  appointed 
to  assist  Mr.  Rittenhouse.  Dr.  Rush,  in  his  eu- 
logy upon  Rittenhouse,  says  : — 

“ We  are  naturally  led  here  to  take  a view  of 
our  philosopher,  with  his  associates,  in  their  pre- 
paration to  observe  a phenomenon  which  had 
never  been  seen  but  twice  before  by  any  inhabi- 
tant of  our  earth,  and  which  would  never  be  seen 
again  by  any  person  then  living,  and  on  which 
depended  very  important  astronomical  conse- 
quences. 

“ The  night  before  the  long-expected  day,  was 
probably  passed  in  a degree  of  solicitude  which 
precluded  sleep.  How  great  must  have  been  their 
joy  when  they  beheld  the  morning  sun,  and  the 
whole  horizon  without  a cloud. 

“ In  pensive  silence  and  trembling  anxiety  they 
waited  for  the  predicted  moment  of  observation. 
It  came,  and  brought  with  it  all  that  had  been 
wished  for  and  expected  by  those  who  saw  it.  In 
our  philosopher  it  excited  in  the  instant  of  one  of 


39 


the  contacts  of  the  planet  with  the  sun,  an  emo- 
tion of  delight  so  exquisite  and  powerful  as  to 
induce  fainting.”  “This,”  says  Dr.  Rush,  “will 
readily  be  believed  by  those  who  have  known  the 
extent  of  pleasure  which  attends  the  discovery  or 
first  perception  of  Truth.” 

So  great  was  the  fame  of  our  astronomer,  that 
we  find  him  employed,  at  brief  intervals,  from 
1763  to  1785,  in  establishing  boundary  lines,  and 
fixing  the  limits  of  great  Provinces  and  States. 

He  was  the  Treasurer  of  this  State  for  twelve 
years,  and  a trustee  of  the  loan  office  for  ten. 

In  1791,  Dr.  Rittenhouse  (who  had  then  re- 
ceived the  degrees  of  A.M.  and  LL.D.,  and  who 
had  succeeded  Dr.  Franklin  as  President  of  the 
American  Philosophical  Society)  was  a trustee 
of  the  College ; he  had  held  office  as  far  back  as 
1779. 

Upon  the  7th  day  of  January,  1780,  he  was 
elected  Vice-Provost  of  the  University,  having 
been  appointed  Professor  of  Astronomy  Decem- 
ber 16th,  1779.  Dr.  Rittenhouse  resigned  these 
positions  on  the  18th  day  of  April,  1782. 

Ten  years  afterward,  in  1792,  George  ’Washing- 
ton appointed  Dr.  R.  the  first  Director  of  the 
Mint,  and  the  first  coining-press  ever  constructed 
here  was  made  after  his  design. 

In  1778,  J efferson,  in  a letter  written  to  Rit- 
tenhouse, says:  “You  should  consider  that  the 
world  has  but  one  Rittenhouse,  and  that  it  never 
had  one  before.  The  amazing  mechanical  repre- 
sentation of  the  solar  system  (referring  to  the 


40 


Planetarium  or  Orrery),  which  you  conceived  and 
executed,  has  never  been  surpassed  by  any  hut 
the  works  of  which  it  is  a copy.” 

In  his  Notes  on  Virginia , written  in  1781,  he 
says  : “In  war,  we  produced  a Washington.  * * * 
In  physics,  a Franklin.  # # We  have  sup- 

posed Mr.  Bittenhouse  second  to  no  astronomer 
living ; that  in  genius  he  must  he  the  first,  be- 
cause self-taught.  As  an  artist  he  has  exhibited 
as  great  a proof  of  mechanical  genius  as  the  world 
ever  produced.  He  has  not  indeed  made  a world, 
but  he  has  by  imitation  approached  nearer  its 
Maker  than  any  man  who  has  lived  from  the  cre- 
ation to  this  day.”  This  great  man  died  at  his 
house,  at  the  northwest  corner  of  Seventh  and 
Arch  Streets,  on  Sunday,  the  26th  day  of  June, 
1796,  in  the  65th  year  of  his  age. 

How  well  yonder  memorial  window,  the  gift  of 
the  alumni,  perpetuates  the  name  and  fame  of  our 
illustrious  Yice-Provost  you  may  judge,  when  I 
tell  you  that  you  will  find  pictured  there  the  coin- 
ing-press, the  Orrery,  and  a representation  of  the 
transit  of  Y enus.  What  more  can  be  said  of  the 
man,  of  his  genius,  or  of  his  deeds,  all  insepara- 
bly associated  with  the  University  of  Pennsyl- 
vania ! 

The  Bev.  John  Ewing,  D.D.,  whose  portrait 
looks  down  upon  you  from  these  walls,  was  the 
first  Provost  of  the  University,  as  distinguished 
from  the  College,  under  the  charter  of  1779,  and 
he  held  that  position  until  the  year  1802. 

This  most  distinguished  Presbyterian  clergy- 


41 


man  was  born  in  Nottingham  township,  Cecil 
County,  Md.,  June  22, 1732.  It  has  been  said  of 
him  that  in  mathematics  and  astronomy,  in  Latin, 
Greek,  Hebrew,  and  Logic,  in  Metaphysics  and 
moral  Philosophy,  he  was  probably  more  accom- 
plished than  any  man  of  his  day  in  the  United 
States.  As  a mathematician,  the  remark  is  abso- 
lutely true.  When  Dr.  William  Smith,  the  Pro- 
vost, visited  England,  Dr.  Ewing,  at  the  age  of 
26,  was  employed  to  instruct  the  philosophical 
classes  in  the  College  of  Philadelphia. 

In  1773  he  visited  England,  and  the  University 
of  Edinburgh  conferred  upon  him  the  degree 
of  D.D. 

My  friend,  Horatio  Gates  Jones,  Esq.,  of  our 
bar,  to  whom  I am  indebted  for  many  facts  and 
dates  connected  with  the  most  prominent  men  of 
*the  University,  calls  my  attention  to  an  anec- 
dote which  had  escaped  my  observation ; it  is 
worthy  of  notice.  When  Dr.  Ewing  visited 
England,  he  met  the  celebrated  Dr.  Johnson  at 
the  house  of  Mr.  Dilly,  the  wealthy  and  hospita- 
ble bookseller  of  London.  Dr.  Johnson  was  bit- 
ter against  the  colonies,  and,  as  usual,  was  ex- 
ceedingly crabbed  and  stern.  The  contest  with 
America  came  up  for  discussion,  and  when  Dr. 
Ewing,  the  only  American  present,  was  appealed 
to,  he  began  to  defend  the  colonies.  Dr.  John- 
son’s feelings  were  aroused,  and  the  epithets 
rebels  and  scoundrels  were  freely  applied  to  the 
colonists.  At  length  Dr.  Johnson  rudely  said  to 
Dr.  Ewing,  “Sir,  what  do  you  know  in  America? 


42 


You  never  read;  you  have  no  books  there.” 
“ Pardon  me,  sir,”  replied  Dr.  Ewing,  “ we  have 
read  the  Rambler”  This  civility  instantly  paci- 
fied the  Doctor,  and  they  thereupon  sat  up  until 
midnight  in  amiable,  eloquent,  and  interesting 
conversation.  Dr.  Ewing  died  Sept.  8th,  1802, 
aged  71. 

The  vacant  Provostship  was  not  filled  until 
the  year  1806,  when  John  McDowell,  LL.D.,  of 
Pennsylvania,  was  elected  to  the  professorship  of 
natural  philosophy,  and  at  the  end  of  the  year,  or 
early  in  1807,  he  was  elected  Provost.  I have 
been  unable  to  find  any  detail  of  facts  in  connec- 
tion with  this  gentleman ; it  is  certain,  however, 
that  his  health  was  feeble,  and  in  four  years  he 
was  obliged  to  resign. 

His  attachment,  says  Dr.  Wood,  in  his  history 
of  the  University,  remained  unabated.  He  sup-* 
plied  a temporary  vacancy  caused  by  the  resigna- 
tion of  his  successor,  and  by  his  will  he  bequeathed 
his  books,  which  form  a valuable  portion  of  the 
library,  to  the  institution. 

Dr.  Andrews,  who  had  for  nearly  twenty  years 
(from  1791  to  1810)  occupied  the  position  of  Vice- 
Provost,  and  had  been  a professor  from  1789, 
was  in  December,  1810,  elected  Provost.  He 
died  March  29th,  1813,  at  the  age  of  67  years. 
He  was  a native  of  Maryland,  and  an  ordained 
minister  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church.  At 
seventeen  he  was  sent  to  the  College  and  Acad- 
emy of  Philadelphia,  and  graduated  in  1765. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  described  as  a man 


43 


of  rare  classical  knowledge ; an  indefatigable 
worker,  and  an  excellent  teacher ; if  not  endowed 
with  the  splendid  genius,  he  was  nevertheless 
amply  qualified  to  discharge  those  duties  which 
develop  strength  of  mind,  high-toned  morality, 
and  solid  learning. 

In  the  order  of  time,  and  of  succession,  we  now 
mention  the  name  of  Rev.  Frederick  Beasley, 
D.D.  Born  in  1777,  near  Edinton,  S.  C.,  he  gra- 
duated at  Princeton,  with  high  honor,  in  1797. 
Under  Dr.  Samuel  Stanhope  Smith,  he  studied 
theology.  In  1801,  he  was  ordained  a deacon  in 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  by  Bishop 
Moore,  of  New  York,  and  a priest  in  1802.  As 
a minister,  he  officiated  at  Elizabethtown,  N.  J., 
St.  Peter’s,  Albany,  and  St.  Paul’s,  Baltimore, 
where  he  remained  until  July,  1813,  when  he  ac- 
cepted the  position  of  Provost  of  the  University. 
The  degree  of  D.D.  was  conferred  upon  him  by 
Columbia  College  and  the  University.  Respected 
and  learned,  Dr.  Beasley  continued  to  discharge 
his  duties  for  fifteen  years.  He  resigned  his 
office,  to  accept  a pastorate  at  Trenton,  N.  J. 
Failing  health,  after  a time,  obliged  him  to  retire 
from  active  duty,  but  he  devoted  his  leisure  mo- 
ments to  literary  and  theological  studies  until  his 
sudden  death,  upon  November  1,  1845. 

When  the  University,  strictly  so  called,  was 
established,  the  new  trustees  met  in  December, 
1779,  and  steps  were  at  once  taken  to  organize 
the  schools. 

J ames  Cannon  was  appointed  to  the  chair  of 


44 


mathematics.  He  in  a few  years  resigned,  and 
then  the  name  of  Robert  Patterson  appears  as  his 
successor  in  office.  Subsequently  a reorganiza- 
tion took  place,  and  in  the  department  of  arts  five 
separate  schools  were  established,  each  being 
placed  under  the  care  of  a professor.  The  math- 
ematical school  fell  to  the  lot  of  Robert  Patter- 
son, LL.D.  For  thirty-five  years  he  held  the 
office. 

When  Dr.  McDowell  died,  he  (Dr.  P.)  united 
to  the  chair  of  mathematics  that  of  natural  phi- 
losophy, and  in  1810  was  elected  Vice-Provost,  in 
the  place  of  Dr.  Andrews,  who  had  been  made 
Provost ; he  held  this  office  from  1810  to  1813. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  an  Irishman  by 
birth.  He  came  here  before  the  Revolution,  in 
1768 ; was  an  Assistant-Surgeon  and  Brigade 
Major  in  the  Revolution,  from  1776  to  1778 ; and 
he  clung  with  the  utmost  tenacity  to  those  pure 
principles  of  republican  government  which  have 
made  his  name,  and  those  of  more  than  one  of  his 
relatives  and  descendants,  dear  to  the  American 
citizen.  Dr.  Patterson  was  the  President  of  the 
American  Philosophical  Society  in  1819,  and  the 
Director  of  the  Mint  from  1805  to  1824.  In  the 
last-named  year  he  died,  aged  82.  With  a bright 
intellect,  and  a mind  clear  enough  to  comprehend, 
and  accurate  enough  to  master  the  most  difficult 
problems  in  mathematics,  he  was  renowned  for 
his  solidity  of  understanding  and  skill  as  a 
teacher,  and,  when  at  an  advanced  age  he  retired, 


45 


Ills  resignation  was  followed  with  the  regrets  and 
benedictions  of  the  public. 

It  has  been  said  of  him  “ that  he  united  the 
Christian  with  the  philosopher,  and  at  a good  old 
age  went  down  to  the  grave  with  the  full  assu- 
rance that  he  would  rise  again  to  a happier  and 
more  exalted  existence.” 

The  elder  Patterson  died,  but  before  his  death 
he  enjoyed  a privilege  which  seldom  falls  to  the 
lot  of  man.  He  lived  long  enough  to  see  his  son 
fill  his  place,  and  under  his  own  eye  perpetuate 
his  virtues,  talents,  and  learning. 

Dr.  Robert  M.  Patterson,  the  son,  was  born  in 
this  city,  March  23d,  1787.  He  graduated  at  the 
University,  as  a Bachelor  of  Arts,  in  1804,  and 
in  a few  years  later,  as  a Doctor  of  Medicine. 
His  professional  studies  were  pursued  in  Paris 
and  London. 

From  1813  to  1814,  he  was  a Professor  of  Nat- 
ural Philosophy  in  the  University,  and  from  1814 
to  1828  he  filled  the  chairs  of  Mathematics,  Nat- 
ural Philosophy  and  Chemistry,  and  in  the  spring 
of  1814  was  elected  Vice-Provost.  In  1828,  he 
removed  to  Virginia,  where,  from  1828  to  1835, 
he  occupied,  with  distinction,  the  chair  of  Natural 
Philosophy  in  the  University  of  that  State. 

Returning  to  Philadelphia,  Dr.  P.  accepted  an 
appointment  as  Director  of  the  Mint,  an  office 
he  held  from  1835  to  1851.  He  was  elected  Pre- 
sident of  the  American  Philosophical  Society  in 
1845,  and  declined  the  position,  but  subsequently, 


46 


in  1849,  he  was  re-elected,  and  accepted  the  office. 
He  died  on  the  5th  of  September,  1854. 

Dr.  Patterson  was  a gifted  man,  and  in  mental 
characteristics  so  evenly  balanced  as  to  render  it 
a difficult  task  to  do  justice  to  his  memory. 

As  a teacher,  one  of  his  most  distinguished 
pupils,  now  a professor  here,  testifies  to  his  great 
capacity,  while,  as  a lecturer  on  science,  no  less 
a man  than  the  late  Doctor  Dunglison  consid- 
ered him  one  of  the  most  successful  he  ever 
heard. 

Dr.  Patterson’s  thoughts  were  clear  and  to  the 
point,  his  style  eloquent,  his  analysis  almost  per- 
fect, his  learning  abundant.  He  was,  moreover, 
a modest  man,  and  avoided  mere  ostentation  and 
display. 

In  social  life  his  conversation  was  charming, 
while  his  home  was  a centre  of  cultivation,  re- 
finement, and  love.  It  makes  me  sad  to  think 
that  of  the  group  of  five  distinguished  men,  who 
were  accustomed  to  meet  for  social  intercourse, 
all  are  gone — Bethune,  Dallas  Bache,  Dunglison, 
Kane,  and  Patterson,  have  passed  into  another 
world. 

In  1828,  Rev.  Vm.  H.  DeLancy,  D.D.,  was 
elected  Provost. 

In  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  it  is  hardly  neces- 
sary for  me  even  to  sketch  the  history  of  this 
learned  and  godly  man.  My  eye  can  almost  see 
the  lofty  spire  of  the  church  in  which  he  minis- 
tered, and  my  ear  is  even  now  entranced  with  the 
music  of  its  sweet  chime  of  bells. 


47 


For  six  years,  and  until  1834,  he  went  in  and 
out  before  his  pupils,  many  of  whom  live  to-day, 
and  must  well  remember  his  lessons  of  wisdom, 
replete  with  learning,  his  words  of  wise  counsel, 
his  pious  example. 

In  1834,  Dr.  DeLancy  was  elected  the  Episco- 
pal Bishop  of  the  then  diocese  of  Western  New 
York;  from  that  period,  and  until  the  day  of  his 
death,  his  name  and  fame  became  the  property  of 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United 
States. 

Just  here  I must  pause,  and  for  a few  moments 
postpone  my  remarks  concerning  the  man  who 
was  the  successor  of  Bishop  De  Lancy  as  the 
Provost  of  this  University.  Presently  I shall 
speak  of  him. 

And  now  we  have  reached  a period  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  University,  when  it  seems  to  me  as 
though  I am  about  to  speak,  not  of  the  dead,  but 
of  the  living,  for  the  remaining  portraits  and  me- 
morial windows  remind  me  of  the  men  who  were 
the  instructors  of  my  youth,  and  whose  names  are 
signed  to  my  own  diploma. 

I can  see  them  now  as  one  by  one  they  enter 
the  chapel,  or  sit  in  the  class-room. 

There  was  that  very  learned  man,  Henry  Veth- 
ake,  LL.D.,  born  in  1792,  in  the  Colony  of  Ese- 
quibo,  Guiana,  South  America.  He  removed  to 
the  United  States  at  four  years  of  age.  Having 
graduated  at  Columbia  College,  New  York,  he 
studied  law.  For  one  year  he  taught  mathema- 
tics in  Columbia  College.  In  1813,  he  filled  the 


48 


chairs  of  Mathematics  and  Natural  Philosophy  at 
Rutgers,  N.  J.,  and  of  Chemistry  and  Mathema- 
tics at  Princeton,  from  1817  to  1821.  Dr.  Veth- 
ake  was  also  a professor  at  Dickinson  College  and 
the  University  of  New  York,  while  at  one  time 
he  was  the  President  of  Washington  College,  Vir- 
ginia, and  in  1859,  the  Professor  of  Higher  Math- 
ematics in  the  Polytechnic  College  in  this  city. 
He  was  a professor  in  the  University  of  Pennsyl- 
vania from  1836  to  1859,  while  he  was  also  its 
Viee-Provost  in  1846,  and  finally  from  1854  to 
1859  was  the  Provost.  As  a man  Dr.  Vethake 
was  kind,  considerate,  and  the  very  soul  of  honor, 
and  in  the  republic  of  letters  he  deserves  a high 
rank.  As  a mathematician  he  was  most  eminent, 
while  his  knowledge  in  almost  every  branch  of 
human  learning  was  profound.  Did  time  permit, 
it  would  be  a labor  of  love  to  trace  in  detail  the 
history  of  this  remarkable  man,  and  prove  by  in- 
contestable evidence  that  he  is  justly  entitled  to 
the  position  assigned  to  him  in  this  discourse.  I 
have,  however,  said  enough,  and  that  very  delib- 
erately and  advisedly,  to  perpetuate  his  fame  in 
so  far  as  it  is  possible  on  this  occasion  so  to  do. 

There  was  Rev.  Samuel  Brown  Wylie,  D.D., 
who  was  born  in  Ireland,  May  21, 1773,  graduated 
at  the  University  of  Glasgow  in  1797,  and  was 
a professor  in  the  Theological  Seminary  of  the 
Reformed  Presbyterian  Church  from  1809  to 
1851. 

Dr.  Wylie  was  a Vice-Provost  from  1834  to 
1845,  and  he  held  the  Professorship  of  Ancient 


49 


Languages  from  1838  to  1845,  when  he  resigned 
and  was  elected  an  Emeritus  Professor.  "When 
I knew  this  Vice-Provost  he  was  advanced  in 
years,  hut  his  mind  was  as  bright  as  ever,  and 
his  Irish  heart  gushed  out  in  expressions  of  ten- 
derness and  affection. 

If  he  was  not  brilliant  he  was  strong,  and,  as  a 
teacher,  his  instruction  was  most  valuable. 

As  a classical  scholar  his  learning  was  pro- 
found, for  his  knowledge  was  built  upon  a founda- 
tion so  solid  that  it  could  not  he  shaken.  Be- 
sides all  this,  his  acquirements  in  other  branches 
of  knowledge  were  extensive,  and  he  was  most 
thoroughly  versed  in  moral  philosophy  and  theo- 
logy. Amid  the  lamentations  of  his  students 
and  the  public,  he  died  on  the  14th  of  October, 
1852,  in  this  city. 

And  now  another  of  my  teachers  appears  before 
me,  and,  as  I gaze  upon  his  compact  form  and 
pleasant  face,  I recognize  Alexander  Dallas 
Bache,  LL.D. 

Born  in  Philadelphia,  July  19,  1806,  he  died 
at  Newport,  B.  I.,  February  17, 1867. 

His  mother  was  a daughter  of  Alexander  J ames 
Dallas,  and  he  was  a grandson  of  Dr.  Franklin. 

He  graduated  at  West  Point  in  1825,  and  until 
1829  was  a Lieutenant  of  Engineers,  and  was 
employed  in  constructing  Fort  Adams,  at  the 
entrance  of  Narragansett  Bay. 

From  1827  to  1832,  he  was  the  Professor  ot 
Mathematics  in  the  University.  Elected  Presi- 
dent of  Girard  College,  he  resigned  his  professor- 


50 


ship,  and  in  1836  spent  some  time  in  Europe 
inspecting  the  schools  there,  and  on  his  return 
prepared  an  elaborate  report  of  great  value. 

In  1839  he  resigned  his  connection  with  Girard 
College,  and  from  1839  to  1842,  was  the  principal 
of  the  Central  High  School  of  Philadelphia.  On 
the  5th  of  August,  1842,  he  was  again  elected  to 
the  chair  of  Natural  Philosophy  and  Chemistry 
in  this  institution. 

The  nation  now  demanded  his  services,  and  in 
1843  he  was  appointed  the  Superintendent  of  the 
Coast  Survey,  a position  which  he  held  until  his 
death. 

In  1846  Dr.  Bache  was  made  a Regent  of  the 
Smithsonian  Institution.  Long  before  that  time 
he  had  been  elected  President  of  the  American 
Philosophical  Society;  while  the  University  of 
New  York  in  1836,  the  University  of  Pennsyl- 
vania in  1837,  and  Harvard  in  1851,  had  each 
conferred  upon  him  the  degree  of  LL.D. 

The  mere  mention  of  the  numerous  positions 
most  acceptably  filled  by  Dr.  Bache  proves  that 
he  was  no  common  man.  Indeed  one  had  but  to 
know  him  to  be  satisfied  that  he  was  not  only  a 
cultivated  gentleman,  but  an  accomplished  scien- 
tist. Without  a particle  of  parade  or  display, 
with  facility  he  imparted  his  knowledge  to  his 
pupils,  and  thus  illustrated  the  abundant  stores 
of  learning  at  his  command ; he  was  cautious 
and  accurate  in  his  inductions,  solid  in  his  attain- 
ments, and  eminently  practical ; altogether,  this 


51 


professor  was  a most  worthy  descendant  of  the 
great  Franklin. 

Another  of  the  professors  was  the  gentle,  cour- 
teous, and  dignified  Henry  Reed,  LL.D.  As  a 
lecturer  and  teacher  he  was  distinguished  for 
clearness  of  thought  and  purity  of  style;  well 
versed  in  general  literature,  he  was  especially 
eminent  in  the  department  of  rhetoric  and  Eng- 
lish literature,  over  which  he  presided.  His  pub- 
lished essays,  already  familiar  to  the  public,  es- 
tablished his  reputation  as  a writer,  critic,  and 
man  of  learning.  The  memorial  window  is  the 
gift  of  the  alumni.  Born  in  Philadelphia,  July 
11,  1808,  he  graduated  here  in  1825. 

Having  pursued  the  study  of  the  law  under  the 
direction  of  the  Hon.  John  Sergeant,  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1829 ; soon  after,  in  1881, 
he  was  appointed  Assistant  Professor  of  English 
Literature  in  the  University,  and,  in  1835,  was 
elected  Professor  of  Bhetoric  and  English  Lite- 
rature. On  the  7th  of  February,  1854,  he  was 
chosen  Vice-Provost.  His  professorship  became 
vacant,  and,  oh!  how  sad  are  the  recollections 
which  now  cluster  around  the  subject.  On  his 
return  from  Europe,  the  beloved  professor  took 
passage  upon  the  ill-fated  “ Arctic/5  and  with 
that  vessel  was  lost  at  sea  on  the  27th  day  of 
September,  1854.  Eighteen  years  have  rolled 
into  eternity  since  the  sad  event,  but  the  features 
and  form  of  my  instructor  live  vividly  in  my 
memory,  and  his  name  and  fame,  with  that  of  his 
colleagues,  Wylie,  Vethake,  and  Bache,  are  per- 


52 


petuated  together  in  the  memorial  windows  and 
portraits  which  adorn  these  walls. 

Venerated  and  beloved  professors,  after  a lapse 
of  nearly  thirty  years,  it  has  fallen  to  the  lot  of 
one  of  your  pupils  to  proclaim  your  fame,  to  trace 
imperfectly  your  history,  and  to  associate  your 
names  with  this  new  building  and  this  honored 
institution. 

I see  you  once  more  gathered  together  now 
and  here,  and,  as  I pay  this  poor  tribute  to  your 
worth  and  learning,  let  me  for  the  last  time 
exclaim,  Hail  and  farewell ! 

A delicate  and  difficult  duty  now  devolves 
upon  me,  for  the  true  history  of  this  institution 
requires  me  to  notice  the  Provost  from  1834  to 
1852.  Born  upon  the  banks  of  the  Passaic,  in 
New  Jersey,  in  1793,  at  twenty.four  years  of  age, 
and  from  1817  to  1823  he  filled  the  Professorship 
of  Hebrew,  Ecclesiastical  History,  and  Church 
Government  in  the  Seminary  of  the  Reformed 
Dutch  Church  at  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.  From 
1823  to  1834  he  was  the  pastor  of  the  First  Re- 
formed Dutch  Church  at  Albany,  N.  Y. 

It  has  already  been  stated  he  was  the  Provost 
of  the  University  from  1834  to  1852,  and  he 
served  this  institution  for  a longer  consecutive 
period  of  time  than  any  other  provost. 

Having  resigned  his  office  in  1852,  he  chose  to 
spend  the  evening  of  his  life  among  the  associa- 
tions and  friends  of  his  earliest  years,  and  he 
therefore  accepted  the  Professorship  of  Ecclesi- 
astical History  and  Church  Government  in  the 


53 


Seminary  at  New  Brunswick,  and  of  Mental 
Philosophy  in  Rutgers  College.  He  continued 
in  the  active  performance  of  his  duties  until  his 
death.  He  died  in  this  city,  on  the  8th  day  of 
September,  1857. 

When,  upon  a pleasant  afternoon  in  the  early 
autumn  of  1857,  “ devout  men  carried  him  to  his 
burial,”  that  eloquent  and  learned  divine  and 
Christian  gentleman,  Rev.  George  W.  Bethune, 
D.D.,  as  he  stood  and  gazed  upon  the  prostrate 
form  of  his  deceased  friend,  the  late  Provost, 
addressed  the  sorrowing  congregation  which 
crowded  the  ancient  church  at  New  Brunswick, 
N.  J. 

Though  that  gifted  orator,  for  many  years  one 
of  your  trustees,  has  gone  to  his  rest  and  his 
reward,  he  shall  speak  now,  and  thus  an  impar- 
tial tongue  shall  honor  the  memory  of  the  dead. 

Dr.  Bethune,  among  other  things,  said : “ His 
most  striking  characteristic  was  strength.  His 
person  was  strong,  his  frame,  large,  firmly  knit, 
and  commanding,  rose  before  you  like  a column 
on  which  no  ordinary  weight  of  public  burden 
might  be  safely  laid. 

“His  countenance  was  strong,  the  lines  of 
thought  deeply  traced,  his  eye  clear  and  almost 
stern. 

“His  voice  was  strong;  no  one  who  looked 
upon  him  and  heard  his  Boanergic  eloquence 
doubted  his  strength. 

“His  intellect  was  strong;  culture  and  con- 
victions of  taste  smoothed  some  of  its  rugged- 


54 


ness;  his  grasp  was  vigorous,  his  logic  direct  and 
determined,  crushing  the  superficial  semblancy 
of  sophistry  and  art. 

“His  will  was  strong;  the  prompt  energy  of 
his  convictions  and  the  humility  with  which  he 
obeyed  well-ascertained  principles  made  him  de- 
termined, because  he  was  sure. 

“His  affections  were  strong;  if  those  who 
looked  upon  his  muscular  frame  and  hard  fea- 
tures, or  heard  his  stentorian  voice,  or  were 
beaten  down  by  his  unadorned  argument,  thought 
him  in  temper  harsh,  or  in  spirit  unkindly,  they 
knew  him  not ; to  his  friends,  to  all  who  knew 
him  in  social  life  or  sought  his  counsel  and 
sympathy,  he  was  gentle,  and  kind,  and  con- 
siderate. 

“His  truthfulness  was  remarkable,  his  theology 
very  grave.  He  chose  ever  the  most  liberal 
policy,  and  inclined  to  the  most  charitable  judg- 
ment, hence  fidelity  in  his  duties  and  friendships 
was  a distinguishing  trait  of  his  life  in  all  his  re- 
lations. 

“His  life  was  pure,  grave,  calm,  consistent, 
industrious,  and  kind.” 

I can  add  nothing  more,  except  to  say  that 
the  name  of  that  Provost  was  John  Ludlow, 
D.D.,  LL.D.  His  surviving  family  tender  their 
thanks  to  the  generous  donors  of  the  memorial 
window,  while  they  are  most  happy  again  to 
present  to  the  University  that  portrait  which, 
even  now,  as  I speak,  seems  to  cast  upon  me  a 
father’s  smile  and  a father’s  blessing. 


55 


Haying  now  finished  the  history  of  Founder, 
Provosts,  Vice-Provosts,  and  Professors  of  the 
College  and  University,  whose  portraits  and  me- 
morial windows  are  here  placed,  let  me  call  your 
attention  very  briefly  to  the  other  memorial 
windows  which  grace  the  building,  and  to  the 
gifts  which  adorn  the  library. 

The  literary  societies,  fired  with  a noble  ambi- 
tion, have  each  contributed  a memorial  window. 
The  one,  the  Philomathean,  perpetuates  its  name 
and  that  of  its  founders,  from  the  year  1815. 

The  other,  the  Zelosophic,  from  the  year  1829, 
when  it  was  established. 

Loving  hearts  and  willing  hands  have  been 
busy  here,  for  the  name  and  fame  of  a trustee 
who  held  office  for  nearly  sixty-one  years  (from 
1774  to  1835),  that  venerable  and  ever-to-be- 
beloved  servant  of  God,  Bishop  White,  lives 
here,  and  so,  too,  do  the  name  and  fame  of  a 
successor,  another  trustee,  the  godly  and  well- 
learned  Bishop  Potter. 

As  you  ascend  the  stairway  you  will  observe 
a most  beautiful  window.  Its  story  is  a simple 
one,  and  its  lesson  instructive.  Fraternal  affec- 
tion has  there  adorned  this  building  with  a 
costly  work  of  art,  which  preserves  the  name 
and  commemorates  the  virtues  of  Alexander 
Benson,  Jr. 

Valuable  collections  of  books  have  recently 
been  presented  to  the  University  by  the  families 
of  the  late  Stephen  Colwell,  Esq.;  the  late 
Evans  Rogers,  Esq. ; and  the  late  Dr.  Charles  M. 


56 


"Wetherill,  who  died  suddenly,  and  who  therefore 
did  not  live  to  enjoy  the  fruit  of  his  own  labor, 
or  to  impart  to  his  pupils  and  to  the  nation  the 
knowledge  which  he  possessed,  and  which  had 
already  made  him  eminent  in  the  scientific  world. 

Portraits  of  the  first  and  last  named  gentlemen, 
and  a bronze  bust  of  the  lamented  Evans  Rogers, 
Esq.,  accompanied  the  gifts,  and  will  be  placed 
in  the  library  of  the  institution. 

And  now,  on  behalf  of  the  several  donors,  I 
present  these  precious  memorials  to  the  Board  of 
Trustees  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania. 

The  University  has  entered  upon  a new  era. 
Its  learned  Provost  (to  whom  I acknowledge  my 
obligations  for  most  interesting  information  in 
regard  to  the  College)  and  its  able  professors 
stand  ready  to  sustain  and  advance  its  well- 
earned  reputation. 

Kindred  institutions  elsewhere  have  noble 
histories,  and  can  point  with  pride  to  the  emi- 
nent men  who  have,  from  the  remotest  period, 
been  associated  with  them.  The  University  of 
Pennsylvania  only  remembers  the  past,  and  with 
assured  hope  looks  into  the  future,  and  where  is 
the  man  who,  as  he  camly  surveys  the  mighty 
influence  produced  upon  the  human  mind,  in  time 
and  for  all  eternity,  by  one  such  institution  as 
this,  will  refuse  with  the  speaker  to  exclaim, 
JEsto  Perpetua. 


57 


THE  ACCEPTANCE. 

Rev.  Dr.  Morton,  on  behalf  of  the  Trustees, 
accepted  the  memorial  windows  and  portraits  in 
the  following  remarks  : — 

In  behalf  of  the  Trustees  of  the  University  of 
Pennsylvania,  I accept,  with  thanks,  the  valuable 
gift  now  offered. 

That  gift  owes  its  value  not  only  to  its  intrinsic 
worth,  but  also  to  the  priceless  associations  which 
cluster  around  it.  Consisting,  as  it  does,  of 
“memorials”  of  great  and  good  men,  of  striking 
portraits  of  wise  and  worthy  men,  it  is  rich  in 
suggestions  of  practical  import  and  moral  power. 
As  the  eye  in  its  scrutiny  passes  slowly  around 
the  walls  of  this  chapel,  and  falls,  first  on  the 
stained  windows,  glowing  with  many-colored 
lights,  and  revealing  many  familiar  and  honored 
names,  then  follows  the  line  of  speaking  portraits, 
which  seem  to  be  looking  at  the  admitted  glory 
of  the  autumnal  sunshine — the  past  comes  back 
upon  us  with  amazing  power,  and  reads  many  a 
lesson  which  the  present  may  well  lay  to  heart. 
These  good  and  noble  and  often  great  men  have 
departed.  The  places  which  knew  them  once 
know  them  no  more.  But,  though  dead,  they 
still  speak  to  us,  and  their  lives  and  labors,  pic- 
tured on  the  casements,  and  their  painted  por- 
traits ranged  along  the  walls,  seem  to  fill  this 

5 


58 


chapel  with  solemn  utterances  and  impressive 
thoughts. 

“Soldiers!  (said  Napoleon,  before  the  great 
battle  which  decided  the  fate  of  Egypt)  soldiers  ! 
from  the  summit  of  those  Pyramids  forty  centu- 
ries look  down  upon  you.”  It  was  a sublime  and 
stimulating  thought,  w^ell  calculated  to  stir  up 
the  souls  of  the  hearers  to  their  lowest  depths. 
Yet  the  centuries  which  looked  down  from  those 
colossal  structures  were  centuries  of  ignorance, 
cruelty,  and  grinding  oppression,  and  the  deeds 
to  which  those  appealed  to  were  stirred  up  were 
deeds  of  violence  and  bloodshed.  But,  to-day,  I 
am  able  to  say  to  this  assembly,  and  especially 
to  those  who  shall  be  students  in  these  halls : 
Many  years  of  grand  efforts  and  noble  achieve- 
ments for  the  good  of  our  race  look  down  upon 
you  from  these  walls,  and  should  stimulate  you 
to  fight  the  good  fight  of  faith,  and  virtue,  and 
patriotism,  and  philanthropy.  Our  own  poet  has 
said  : — 


“ Lives  of  great  men  all  remind  us, 
We  may  make  our  lives  sublime, 
And,  departing,  leave  beliind  us 
Footprints  on  the  sands  of  time, — 
Footprints  that  perhaps  another, 
Sailing  o’er  life’s  solemn  main, 

A forlorn  and  shipwrecked  brother, 
Seeing,  shall  take  heart  again.” 


The  lives  of  great  and  good  men  are  here  re- 
called by  this  noble  gift  of  colored  glass  and  pic- 
tured canvass.  May  we  not  hope  that  they  will 


59 


have  the  influence  they  ought  to  exercise,  and 
gloriously  fulfil  the  expectation  of  the  poet? 

In  behalf,  therefore,  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Uni- 
versity, I again  thank  the  generous  donors. 


CONCLUSION. 

At  the  conclusion  of  Rev.  Dr.  Morton’s  ad- 
dress a benediction  was  pronounced  by  Rev.  Dr. 
Beadle,  and  the  audience  separated. 


PROCEEDINGS  IN  THE  EVENING. 


In  order  to  give  an  opportunity  to  those  who 
had  been  unable  to  attend  the  ceremonies  of  the 
morning,  to  inspect  the  building,  the  Trustees  in- 
vited a number  of  gentlemen  to  be  present  on  the 
evening  of  the  day  of  the  inauguration.  The 
building  was  brilliantly  illuminated  on  this  occa- 
sion, and  its  beautiful  architectural  proportions, 
and  the  spaciousness  of  its  interior  arrangements, 
were  seen  to  great  advantage.  After  some  time 
passed  in  visiting  the  various  rooms,  the  guests 
were  invited  to  proceed  to  the  Assembly-room, 
where  a collation  had  been  provided. 

After  the  collation,  Frederick  Fraley,  Esq., 
of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  invited  the  attention 
of  those  present,  and  said  that  no  arrangement 
had  been  made  for  formal  addresses  at  this  time, 
but  that,  still,  the  authorities  of  the  University 
would  be  glad  to  hear  from  gentlemen  present 
what  impression  had  been  made  upon  them  by 
the  ceremonies  of  the  day,  and  by  their  inspection 
of  the  building  in  which  they  were  assembled. 
It  was  most  important  to  know  how  far  the  great 
work  which  they  had  undertaken  was  supported 
by  the  sympathy  of  the  public. 


62 


The  chairman  then  called  upon  Joseph  Har- 
rison, Jr.,  Esq.,  who  spoke  as  follows : — 

Mr.  Provost,  Professors,  and  Gentlemen  : — 

It  may  not  be  out  of  place  when  we  consider 
the  past  and  present  importance  of  The  Univer- 
sity of  Pennsylvania,  that  outside  people  should 
give  utterance  to  such  ideas  as  they  may  hold  on 
the  subject  of  Education. 

I may  in  some  degree  entertain  heterodox  views 
on  this  subject,  and,  with  all  deference  to  your- 
self, Mr.  Provost,  to  the  Faculty  of  this  Institu- 
tion, and  to  this  company,  I willingly  leave  them 
with  you  for  what  they  are  worth,  and  do  not  in 
any  way  invite  or  desire  discussion. 

That  education  of  some  kind  is  of  value  to  all, 
and  absolute  necessity  to  many,  need  not  be 
pointed  out  or  insisted  upon  at  this  day;  but  we 
may  well  consider  what  kind  of  education  will 
most  conduce  to  the  best  uses  of  the  individual 
in  the  varied  walks  of  life. 

In  one  case,  the  youth  who  is  well  to  do  in  the 
wTorld,  and  has  no  apparent  need  to  concern  him- 
self as  to  his  means  of  living  in  the  future,  may 
desire,  and  may  look  toward  attaining,  a very 
high  standard  of  education,  not  for  the  purpose 
of  using  it  for  his  material  benefit  in  the  battle  of 
life,  but  because  he  feels  that  it  will  be  a pleasure 
to  him  to  know , — that  it  will  be  discreditable  to 
him  to  be  ignorant , — The  University  of  Penn- 
sylvania is  the  place  for  him. 


63 


Another  with  a natural  bent  toward  abstract 
science,  with  what  is  called  genius  too,  if  you 
please,  and  with  a full  understanding  that  what 
he  may  acquire  in  the  schools  must  be  his  means 
for  future  support,  seeks  the  spot  where  such 
necessary  knowledge  can  best  be  found.  The 
University  of  Pennsylvania  is  the  place  for  him! 

I have  been  speaking  of  the  few,  in  the  great 
mass  of  humanity;  one  class  heaping  up  knowl- 
edge as  a gratification  and  an  ornament,  and  that 
other  class,  whose  opportunities  make  it  possible 
to  turn  their  acquirements  to  account  in  the 
learned  professions,  as  well  as  in  other  pursuits 
needing  such  knowledge,  and  thereby  conducing 
to  their  pleasure  as  well  as  to  their  profit. 

Let  us  now  glance  toward  the  practical  toilers 
of  our  race,  that  greater  number  who  fill  the 
ranks  of  the  grand  army  of  producers ; they  who 
must  strain  body  and  brain  to  the  utmost  to  first 
conquer  a living,  and  from  whose  number  in  the 
past,  as  in  the  present,  are  recruited  in  almost 
every  instance  the  managers  and  masters  of  our 
great  industrial  establishments. 

Equal,  perhaps,  in  all  respects  with  those  who 
bear  oft*  the  honors  at  college,  they  seldom  have 
time  to  spend  at  school  after  fifteen  or  sixteen, 
and  they  or  theirs  as  seldom  have  means  to  spare 
above  their  ordinary  wants.  The  University  of 
Pennsylvania  is  no  place  for  them. 

A good  deal  is  written  and  said  in  these  days 
about  a higher  standard  of  education  for  those 
who*  fill  the  third  place  in  this  category — that 


64 


they  should  be  taught  chemistry,  mathematics, 
and  the  other  abstract  sciences,  so  as  to  better  fit 
them  for  the  work  in  which  they  must  strive  to 
make  a living. 

I doubt  very  much  the  necessity  or  the  value 
of  these  acquisitions,  and  I think,  under  the  pre- 
sent condition  of  things,  that  the  preachings  and 
in  part  the  practices  of  the  hour  are  toward  too 
high  a standard  of  education  for  the  man  who 
must,  'perforce , start  in  life  with  the  stern  neces- 
sity of  earning  his  daily  bread  without  needless 
loss  of  time. 

Keep  him  too  late  at  school,  and  it  will  be  per- 
haps too  late  for  him  to  learn  a trade.  Keep  him 
too  late  at  school,  and  he  will  beget  a distaste  for 
such  useful  work  as  will  best  tend  toward  fur- 
nishing him  with  the  means  to  live. 

To  my  mind  the  very  best  knowledge  that  a 
young  man  can  have  at  twenty-one,  situated  as  I 
have  just  described,  is  that  which  he  can  turn  to 
the  best  and  most  profitable  account — that  which 
will  always  be  in  demand. 

“Oh!”  exclaims  one,  “you  cannot  make  good 
makers  of  machinery  without  this  higher  educa- 
tion, nor  can  you  make  a good  dyer  or  founder 
without  a full  knowledge  of  the  chemistry  or  the 
metallurgy  that  bears  upon  his  trade.”  True,  in 
the  main;  but  do  not  flatter  yourself  into  believ- 
ing that  all  those  who  achieve  distinction  in  the 
industrial  arts  come  from  the  number  of  those 
most  highly  educated,  in  the  common  sense  of 
these  terms. 


65 


That  they  might  more  easily  have  become  mas- 
ters and  managers  in  their  varied  vocations  had 
they  possessed,  at  the  outset  of  their  career,  the 
knowledge  of  a graduate  of  this  University,  or 
of  the  Philadelphia  High  School,  is  possible,  but 
the  chances  might  have  been  that  those  who  fill 
the  highest  and  most  profitable  places  to-day 
might  never  have  achieved  distinction  at  all,  in 
their  callings,  ■ had  they  been  kept  out  of  the 
workshop  until  at  or  near  their  manhood.  Too 
much  education  might  have  marred  their  fortunes 
for  life. 

In  mechanical  and  other  trades,  it  is  the  edu- 
cation of  the  workshop,  and  not  the  education  of 
the  schools,  that  is  most  required. 

Teaching  by  the  rule  of  thumb,  as  some  call  it, 
or  rather  by  manipulation  and  practical  applica- 
tion, is  more  needed  by  the  mechanic  and  artisan 
at  this  day  than  theoretical  science. 

The  most  distinguished  men  now  engaged  as 
masters  in  the  industrial  arts  are  not  from 
amongst  the  graduates  of  Universities  or  High 
Schools,  and  I fear  that  they  will  never  be  found, 
as  a general  rule,  with  those  who  have  won  high 
scholastic  honors.  Polytechnic  schools,  and  such 
workshops  as  are  sometimes  found  in  colleges, 
can  never  make  the  first-class  practical  workman. 

If  you  will  scan  the  wide  field  of  the  mechanic, 
the  engineer,  and  the  manufacturer,  you  will  find, 
with  but  few  exceptions,  that  at  the  present  mo- 
ment the  ruling  minds  are  from  the  class  of  the 
early  and  persistent  toilers  in  the  workshop,  and 


66 


it  seems  necessary,  for  developing  the  mind  in 
practical  things,  that  this  kind  of  early  training, 
this  rough  and  tumble  sort  of  discipline,  must 
be  encountered  at  first,  to  prepare  the  man  for 
the  better  and  higher  work  thereafter. 

Ask  those  who  are  engaged  in  making  im- 
provcments  in  machinery,  and  from  whose  labors 
the  world  is  now  so  largely  benefited,  how  much 
they  depend  upon  the  higher  and  more  abstract 
branches  of  science.  They  may  have  learned  in 
early  life  a smattering  of  mathematics  only  to  be 
forgotten,  but,  when  they  need  abstract  calcula- 
tions or  elaborately  finished  drawings,  they  get 
others  to  do  them.  Their  time  is  worth  too  much 
for  that. 

And,  again,  in  the  use  of  a material  like  iron; 
the  theorist  boasts,  over  his  apparently  unlearned 
competitor,  that  his  calculations  are  made  to  a 
decimal,  but  the  former  has  not  yet  learned  that 
there  are  hidden  blow-holes  in  cast  iron,  and  hid- 
den defects  in  other  material,  as  well  as  other 
most  important  influences  not  calculable,  that,  if 
not  allowed  for,  will  set  at  naught  all  these  nice 
calculations,  and  his  work  will  be  thus  rendered 
worthless.  An  intuitive  idea  of  proportion  comes 
from  practice  in  the  workshop,  which  cannot  be 
learned  in  the  schools. 

There  is  much  that  bars  and  hinders  the  learner, 
and  a full  supply  of  skilled  labor  is  now  a most 
crying  want.  Let  us  not  keep  the  lad  who  must 
earn  his  own  living  out  of  the  workshop  by  keep- 
ing him  too  long  at  school,  thereby  losing  valu- 


67 


able  time  in  acquiring  a kind  of  knowledge  that 
he  seldom  or  never  can  use. 

As  in  the  past  so  it  will  he  in  the  future,  the 
bright  boy  and  the  brighter  man  will  fill  the  best 
places  as  managers  and  masters.  Mediocrity  and 
stupidity  will  find  their  level,  and  they  will  con- 
tinue to  lament  that  they  never  had  a chance. 

The  Chairman  then  called  upon  Rev.  C.  W. 
Shields,  D.D.,  Professor  in  the  College  of  New 
Jersey,  and  representing  the  Faculty. 

Dr.  Shields.  I came  from  Princeton  to-day, 
sir,  expecting  the  silent  enjoyment  of  viewing 
this  beautiful  building,  and  also  the  intellectual 
entertainment  which  was  afforded  this  morning ; 
but  of  this  part  of  the  programme  I had  no 
knowledge.  I am  very  glad,  however,  to  have  the 
opportunity,  which  you  have  so  unexpectedly  and 
so  kindly  afforded,  of  thanking  you,  in  the  name 
of  the  President  and  Faculty  of  the  College  of 
New  Jersey,  for  your  courteous  invitation  to  be 
here  to-day.  More  would  have  been  glad  to  avail 
themselves  of  this  invitation  if  their  college 
duties  had  permitted.  I beg  to  assure  you,  sir, 
that  that  old  institution,  its  elder  sister  in  the  sis- 
terhood of  colleges,  takes  the  liveliest  and  most 
cordial  interest  in  the  prosperity  of  the  Univer- 
sity of  Pennsylvania.  These  two  great  institu- 
tions, as  we  learn  from  the  eloquent  Memorial 
Address  this  morning,  have  during  all  their  his- 
tory never  maintained  any  other  relations  than 


68 


those  of  good  neighborhood  and  generous  rivalry. 
Some  of  the  names  which  are  most  illustrious  in 
your  own  history  are  also  to  he  found  in  the  cata- 
logue of  the  graduates  and  professors  of  Nassau 
Hall.  And  the  erection  of  such  a building  as 
this  is  a subject  of  rejoicing  not  only  to  us,  hut 
to  all  the  colleges  of  the  land,  to  every  friend  of 
learning  and  liberal  education.  Notwithstand- 
ing what  is  often  said  in  these  times,  and  in  many 
cases  justly  said,  in  regard  to  the  waste  of  money 
on  stone  and  mortar,  yet  an  institution  like  this, 
one  which  has  a history  and  which  has  an  assured 
future,  owes  it  to  itself  that  it  should  have  a 
worthy  visible  embodiment  before  the  public. 
This  elegant  edifice,  especially  that  beautiful 
chapel,  with  its  memorial  windows,  will  itself 
exercise  an  educating  influence  over  the  students 
who  are  gathered  within  its  walls ; and  the  whole 
building  will  stand  as  a monument  to  connect 
the  present  with  former  generations,  and  with 
coming  generations. 

Colleges  are  among  the  most  indestructible 
forms  of  social  organization  that  exist;  and  where 
they  have  long  existed  it  is  surely  but  right  that 
the  material  embodiment  which  they  present  to 
the  public  eye  should  be  in  keeping  with  their 
usefulness,  and  with  their  traditions,  and  with 
their  prospects. 

The  opportunity  which  has  been  kindly  afforded 
me  of  viewing  the  rooms  in  this  edifice  has  been 
a great  gratification.  I know  of  nothing  that 
can  compare  with  it  for  the  purposes  for  which  it 


69 


is  intended;  and  I am  truly  rejoiced  to  be  able 
to  say,  in  behalf  of  the  college  that  I happen  to 
represent  this  evening,  that  we  are  glad  to  wit- 
ness the  prosperity  of  this  institution.  And  I 
beg  to  add,  in  concluding,  my  own  personal 
gratification  as  a former  resident  of  Philadelphia, 
and  for  more  than  fifteen  years  a member  of  one 
of  the  learned  professions  of  the  city,  at  the  signs 
of  growth  and  progress.  I am  glad  to  see  that 
the  University  is  keeping  pace  with  the  growth 
of  the  city,  and  that  this  Faculty  of  Arts,  with 
its  new  sister  Faculty  of  Science,  is  not  falling 
behind  the  older  and  more  distinguished  faculties 
which  have  given  this  University  such  a world- 
wide renown.  May  its  prosperity  in  the  future 
be  equal  to  that  which  it  has  enjoyed  in  the  past! 
(Great  applause.) 


SPEECH  OF  EX-MAYOR  FOX. 

The  Chairman.  Gentlemen,  the  Trustees  of 
the  University  feel  that  they  owe,  to  one  who  re- 
cently occupied  the  highest  municipal  position  in 
the  city,  some  tribute  of  their  gratitude  for  his 
aid  in  promoting  the  erection  of  this  building. 
He  participated  in  the  ceremonies  attending  the 
laying  of  the  corner-stone,  and  he  has  taken  since 
that  time  a deep  interest  in  the  progress  of  the 
work  and  in  the  welfare  of  that  which  was  set  in 
motion.  I call  upon  the  Hon.  Daniel  M.  Fox. 
(Applause.) 


70 


Hon.  Daniel  M.  Fox  responded  in  the  follow- 
ing words: — 

Mr.  Chairman,  I rejoice  to-day  very  much  in 
being  present.  I have  had  really  a very  happy 
afternoon.  The  picture  presented  to  me  of  this 
magnificent  pile,  these  spacious  halls,  the  large 
gathering  in  the  chapel  and  the  speeches  made 
there,  seems  to  me  to  be  sufficient  for  one  day. 
I expected  this  evening  to  have  the  pleasure  of 
listening  to  others  rather  than  that  I should  be 
called  upon.  I am  glad  to  have  the  opportunity 
of  being  here,  however,  and  to  say  that  I have 
listened  with  interest  and  satisfaction  to  the  his- 
tory of  this  institution  as  given  to  us  by  some  of 
the  eloquent  gentlemen  this  afternoon.  With 
that  history,  with  the  associations  surrounding 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  with  this  wonder- 
ful and  spacious  accommodation  for  students, 
with  Faculties  now  complete  in  every  department 
of  liberal  instruction,  and  supported  by  such 
means  of  moral  power  as  I see  around  me  to- 
night, who  can  doubt  the  success  of  this  institu- 
tion and  the  brilliancy  with  which  it  shall  perform 
the  great  work  expected  of  it  ? As  a citizen  of 
Philadelphia,  I should  ask  for  it  no  better  friends 
than  these  respectable  and  influential  gentlemen 
who  have  evidently  gathered  here  to-night  to 
testify  by  their  presence  the  interest  they  feel 
in  the  University  by  their  recognition  of  the 
ample  provision  made  here  for  the  present  and 
the  generations  that  are  to  come. 

It  ought  to  be  a proud  day,  and  especially  to 


71 


us  of  Philadelphia.  This  is  the  great  institution 
of  this  part  of  our  country.  We  ought  all  to  be 
glad  that  it  has  its  home  in  our  own  dear  city? 
and  that  it  has  been  planted  just  here.  I am 
satisfied  that  the  judgment  which  located  the 
buildings  west  of  the  Schuylkill  was  the  best 
judgment,  and  time  as  it  goes  on  will  confirm  it. 
I believe  the  day  will  come — it  may  not  be  in 
our  time,  but  it  will  come — when  all  the  public 
institutions  of  learning  and  of  benevolence  in 
Philadelphia  will  be  located  west  of  the  river,  as 
they  ought  to  be,  away  from  the  turmoil  and 
bustle  of  the  business  portion  of  the  city;  and  it 
seems  to  me  that  this  has  been  a step  in  advance 
in  that  direction.  The  very  presence  of  this  in- 
stitution here  will  invite  and  induce  others,  per- 
haps not  of  like  importance,  for  there  are  not 
many  equal  to  it,  but  others  with  great  public 
objects,  to  come  west  of  the  river  also. 

Y ou,  sir,  were  kind  enough  to  say,  and  to  flatter 
me  in  saying,  that  I had  something  to  do  with 
the  location  of  the  institution  at  this  place,  whilst 
I occupied  a public  position.  I can  only  say,  sir, 
it  happened  in  my  time.  (Laughter  and  applause.) 

The  Chairman  then  called  upon  Rev.  Dr. 
Goodwin,  formerly  Provost  of  the  University. 

Dr.  Goodwin,  after  referring  to  the  pleasant 
recollections  of  his  former  relations  with  the 
Trustees  and  Faculty,  went  on  to  say : — 

Dr.  Goodwin.  We  have  heard  to-day  of  the 
past,  an  illustrious,  magnificent  past;  and  now 


72 


we  have  that  before  ns  which  leads  us  to  look 
forward  to  the  future.  May  I not  say,  Mr.  Chair- 
man, that  a more  illustrious,  more  magnificent, 
and  more  glorious  future  is  before  this  University 
than  all  that  lies  in  the  past?  And  it  is  some 
satisfaction  to  me  to  feel  that  I may  remain, 
though  connected  with  the  past,  yet  still  survi- 
ving in  the  present,  at  least  a link  in  some  mea- 
sure connecting  that  illustrious  past  with  the 
still  more  illustrious  future.  And  I may  say  to 
these  young  men  who  have  been  connected  with 
the  University  during  the  last  ten  or  twelve  years 
— those  who  have  graduated  or  have  entered  the 
University  between  the  years  1860  and  1871 — 
that,  as  they  look  hack  upon  the  past  and  look 
forward  to  the  future,  there  is  much  to  stimulate 
them  to  do  well  their  work  in  life;  and  I say  to 
you,  Mr.  Chairman,  what  I have  said  to  one  of 
them  this  evening,  that  I trust  those  young  men 
who  have  not  yet  had  time  to  come  forward  to  the 
front  will  yet  give  a good  account  of  themselves. 

Mr.  Chairman,  I said  we  have  heard  of  the 
illustrious  past,  and  we  think  of  the  glorious 
future.  It  is  a magnificent  thought  and  a gratifi- 
cation that  few  men  can  have  in  their  lives.  A 
new  era  for  the  University  now  begins.  Now 
we  may  say  : “ Magnus  ab  integro  saeclorum  nas- 
citur  ordo and  now:  “ Incipient magni procedere 
mentes and  they  will  go  on  until  the  great  ends 
of  this  University  are  more  and  more  fully  ac- 
complished. 

But,  Mr.  Chairman,  I understand  that  one  more 


73 


thing  is  wanting,  and  only  one  thing  is  not  want- 
ing ; and  before  I sit  down  I wish  to  say  to  the 
gentlemen  of  the  city  who  may  be  here  present, 
more  or  less  interested  in  the  University,  one 
thing  is  lacking — more  funds.  They  will  be  fur- 
nished. But  I have  to  say  one  other  thing  to 
these  good  friends  of  the  University:  they  need 
not  hope  or  expect  that  they  will  finish  this  work 
of  giving  by  giving  once.  So  surely  as  this 
University  lives,  and  prospers,  and  grows,  it  will 
need  more  and  more.  An  institution  like  this 
that  asks  for  nothing  is  making  little  progress. 
A University,  this  University,  like  the  daughters 
of  the  horse-leech,  will  say — will  never  cease  to 
say — “give,”  “give.”  But,  sir,  like  the  fairest 
of  the  fair  daughters  of  Job,  Keren-happuch — 
cornucopia — the  University  will  be  an  overflow- 
ing source  of  blessing,  and  of  beauty,  and  honor, 
and  glory,  and  light,  and  power,  and  knowledge, 
to  all  around.  Nay,  more  and  better,  the  Uni- 
versity will  be  like  that  attribute  of  mercy  which 
Portia  eulogizes,  which  “blesses  him  that  gives 
and  him  that  takes ;”  blessing  the  giver  in  convey- 
ing the  multiplied  benefits  of  his  gifts  to  gene- 
ration after  generation  of  happy  recipients. 

May  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  always  be 
able,  with  more  pride  than  Cornelia,  to  point  to 
“her  jewels ;”  and  may  she  never  cease  to  be  “a 
joyful  mother  of  children!”  (Great  applause.) 

Theodore  Cuyler,  Esq.,  was  then  called 

upon. 

6 


74 


Mr.  Cuyler.— Mr.  Chairman,  for  myself  and 
for  you,  too,  and  for  those  whom  I see  here,  I am 
afraid  I must  express  regret  that  your  eye  lighted 
upon  me.  However,  sir,  I will  acknowledge 
your  courtesy,  and  endeavor  by  avoiding  much 
speaking  not  to  abuse  it. 

It  is  thirty  years  and  more  since  I left  the 
classic  shades  of  this  old  University ; and  now  to 
come  back,  foot- worn  and  weary  in  the  pathway 
of  life,  to  meet  again  with  old  college  friends,  to 
lay  again  together  the  embers  of  old  college 
friendship  and  strive  to  blow  them  into  a flame, 
is  in  some  sense  a delightful  task  and  in  others  a 
very  painful  one.  It  is  painful,  because  when  I 
look  around  I scarce  see  familiar  faces  any  more. 
All  those  who  occupied  the  chairs  of  Professors 
in  this  University  when  I had  the  honor  of  being 
a student  in  it,  I think  without  an  exception, 
have  passed  away  and  gone  to  their  reward. 
Dr.  Ludlow,  the  noble  Provost  of  the  institution 
in  the  days  when  I was  a student,  I followed  to 
his  grave  in  a neighboring  city  some  years  ago. 
Dr.  Wylie,  our  admirable  instructor  in  the 
classics,  thorough,  perfect,  unsurpassed  proba- 
bly as  an  instructor  in  this  country,  rests  from 
his  labors.  The  gentle  and  refined  Professor 
Courtenay,  and  the  accomplished  scholar,  Pro- 
fessor Vethake,  who  succeeded  him,  have  passed 
away.  Alexander  Dallas  Bache,  whom  you  knew 
and  loved  and  under  whose  instructions  I sat,  is 
in  his  grave.  And  last  of  all,  the  noblest,  purest, 
and  most  refined  scholar  with  whom  I ever  had 


75 


the  pleasure  of  association,  Henry  Reed,  sleeps 
in  the  blue  Atlantic. 

I think,  sir,  I have  covered  the  whole  list  of 
Professors  here  under  whose  instruction  I sat; 
not  one  survives.  And  then,  when  I pass  from  the 
instructors  and  look  around  for  my  classmates, 
those  bright-faced,  happy  youths  with  whom  I 
met  daily  for  so  many  years,  some  of  them  are  in 
their  graves,  some  of  them  are  adorning  the  po- 
sitions they  occupy  in  life,  all  of  them  hirsute, 
gray,  with  faces  wrinkled  with  the  cares  and 
duties  and  responsibilities  of  life,  so  altered  from 
what  they  were  when  they  wore  the  smiling  faces 
I was  accustomed  to  meet  that  I look  at  them  as 
if  they  were  almost  strangers. 

So  you  can  well  understand  that  I feel  sad 
when  I come  here  and  look  around  to-night  and 
see  what  changes  have  taken  place.  Why,  the 
very  old  family  roof  itself  is  gone ; the  old  halls 
where  I was  accustomed  to  go,  in  which  I was 
accustomed  to  be  instructed,  have  disappeared,  or 
rather,  they  have  been  replaced  by  a grander 
and  nobler  structure — far,  very  far  grander  and 
nobler  than  that  to  which  I was  accustomed  to 
go.  But  the  associations  are  wanting;  the 
memories  are  gone ; and  I look  around  and  see 
nothing  scarcely  that  reminds  me  of  what  I once 
knew  and  once  felt  when  I was  a student  in  the 
University.  But  yet,  sir,  for  all  that,  I am  glad 
it  is  gone,  and  I congratulate  you  from  the 
bottom  of  my  heart  on  the  change  that  has  taken 
place.  Other  students  through  long  generations 


76 


will  throng  the  halls  of  this  noble  building  which 
you  have  erected  here ; they  will  have  memories 
and  associations  connected  with  it ; and  for  a 
long  time  to  come,  for  generations,  nay  I hope 
for  centuries  to  come,  the  old  institution  trans- 
planted to  this  place  will  grow,  increase,  and 
flourish — I trust  for  all  time.  (Great  applause.) 

I thank  you,  sir,  for  the  courtesy  which  called 
upon  me,  and  regret  that  I have  detained  you  so 
long. 

Samuel  Dickson,  Esq.,  spoke  on  behalf  of 
the  Alumni. 

Mr.  Chairman,  very  unexpectedly  called  upon 
in  this  manner,  I can  only  say  that,  in  common 
with  all  the  Alumni,  I have  taken  a deep  interest 
in  the  University  since  graduating,  and  that  we 
have  all  rejoiced  in  the  erection  of  this  edifice, 
and  that  the  successful  completion  of  this  work 
would  make  it  seem  possible  that  that  ideal  which 
we  have  had  before  us,  and  to  realize  which  for 
many  years  there  seemed  to  be  no  effort  made, 
may  yet  be  accomplished.  It  has  seemed  to  us 
that  there  was  no  reason  why  this  University 
should  not  be  a great  and  splendid  institution. 
There  has  been  an  idea  to  some  extent  with  the 
people  of  Philadelphia  and  with  the  people  of 
this  country  that  any  college  in  a large  city  could 
not  succeed.  It  is  not  so  in  Europe.  The  Uni- 
versities of  Berlin  and  of  Paris  have  been  the 
leading  institutions  of  Europe.  There  is  no 


77 


reason  why  the  citizens  of  Philadelphia,  taking 
a proper  interest  in  this  University,  if  they  can 
feel  that  it  is  a successful  competitor  with  other 
institutions  in  this  country,  should  not  send  their 
sons  here  to  he  educated,  as  well  as  to  Yale  or 
Harvard  or  Princeton.  And  one  means  whereby 
that  end  will  be  accomplished,  perhaps,  will  be 
for  the  Alumni  of  the  University  to  he  made  to 
take  a deeper  interest  in  the  institution  itself. 
I believe  that  heretofore  there  has  not  been  as 
much  unity  of  feeling  among  the  Alumni  as 
there  should  be;  the  Alumni  Society  has  not  been 
a very  successful  organization ; but  in  the  future 
we  have  reason  to  hope  that  there  will  be  a change. 
The  French  proverb  says,  “ nothing  succeeds 
like  success and  the  prospects  of  the  Uni- 
versity now  are  such  that  the  Alumni  of  the 
University  will  feel  a new  and  greater  pride  in 
the  institution,  and  I think  there  is  every  reason 
to  hope  that  they  will  take  a deeper  interest  in 
it,  and  that  they  will  co-operate  with  the  efforts 
of  the  Trustees  and  of  the  Faculty  to  make  it 
what  it  should  be. 

On  behalf  of  the  Alumni,  so  far  as  it  would 
be  proper  for  me  to  speak  for  them,  I certainly 
feel  it  a privilege  to  express  our  acknowledgments 
to  the  Trustees  for  their  efforts  in  putting  up 
this  building  and  in  securing  the  endowment  for 
the  University,  and  they  have,  I think,  the  cor- 
dial good-will  and  cordial  sympathy  of  all  the 
Alumni.  (Great  applause.) 


78 


The  Chairman  then  called  upon  Coleman 
Sellers,  Esq.,  President  of  the  Franklin  Institute. 

Mr.  Sellers.  Mr.  Chairman,  it  is  impossible 
for  me  to  express  in  fitting  terms  the  feelings  ex- 
cited within  me  at  the  connection  of  the  name  of 
the  Franklin  Institute  with  that  of  this  Univer- 
sity. I heard  to-day  that  exceedingly  interesting 
description  of  the  beautiful  windows  that  adorn 
your  chapel.  Prominent  among  those  windows 
is  that  which  is  intended  as  a memorial  of  Frank- 
lin. In  the  matter  of  education,  Franklin  stood 
preeminently  forward  in  this  country;  and  the 
Franklin  Institute  has  endeavored  through  its 
whole  course  since  its  origin  to  educate  the  me- 
chanics of  the  city  of  Philadelphia.  All  con- 
nected with  that  Institute  have  felt  the  need  of 
some  place  where  those  who  desired  to  succeed 
as  mechanics  should  have,  what  some  of  us  too 
much  lacked,  the  means  of  obtaining  a liberal 
education. 

I have  heard  this  evening  the  remarks  of  my 
friend,  Mr.  Harrison,  and  I must  say  that  I feel 
constrained  to  differ  with  him  in  some  respects 
with  regard  to  the  kind  of  instruction  that  me- 
chanics should  receive.  There  are  now  through- 
out this  country  many  eminent  men  who  are 
prominent  as  mechanics.  If  you  inquire  into 
their  career,  you  will  find,  in  all  probability,  that 
they  had  but  a simple  common-school  education ; 
but  my  word  for  it,  sir,  they  have,  every  one  of 
them,  regretted  that  they  had  not  the  means  of 
obtaining  knowledge  that  is  now  offered  by  this 


79 


noble  institution.  (Applause.)  I myself  have 
felt  this  deeply.  Leaving  school  at  the  early  age 
of  fifteen  to  work  upon  a farm,  and  then  finding 
my  way  as  best  I could  into  the  workshop,  all 
the  time  I could  spare  has  been  devoted  to  ac- 
quiring in  after-life  that  knowledge  the  founda- 
tion of  which  should  have  been  given  to  me  when 
I was  young.  I see  in  my  own  children — I think 
of  it  every  day — that  what  is  wanted  is  some 
means  to  make  those  who  are  to  be  the  leading 
mechanics  of  the  country  cultivated,  well-edu- 
cated men  (applause)  ; make  them,  not  as  I am, 
afraid  to  address  an  audience  like  this,  but  able 
to  come  forward  and  feel  that  they  are  speaking 
properly,  at  least,  their  mother-tongue. 

Now,  it  is  natural  for  all  mechanics  to  think 
of  that  which  produces  a result  in  the  light  of  a 
machine ; they  feel  and  know,  that,  when  a need 
exists  for  the  production  of  a certain  machine,  it  is 
usually  created.  Pardon  me,  sir,  for  speaking  of 
this  great  University  of  Pennsylvania  as  a mechan- 
ism, the  object  of  which  is  to  shape,  to  mould, 
minds  into  usefulness.  There  has  been  a need  of 
this  very  machine,  considered  as  a means  of  educa- 
tion ; and  it  has  been  created  not  entirely  new,  but 
to  the  old  parts  new  movements  have  been  added 
to  meet  the  requirements  of  the  times.  I see  in  it 
something  far  better  than  the  so-called  technical 
institutions  of  the  country.  I see  science  walking 
hand  in  hand  with  art.  I notice  that  those  young 
men  who  come  here  and  enter  the  scientific  course, 
at  once  feel  that  they  must  endeavor  to  acquire 


80 


something  more  than  mere  technical  knowledge. 
I find  that  invariably,  while  they  are  anxious  to 
acquire  the  knowledge  that  will  aid  them  in  their 
profession,  still  they  want  to  listen  to  the  worthy 
Provost  in  his  instruction ; they  want  to  go  to  those 
Professors  who  will  teach  them  something  beyond 
demonstrations  in  the  particular  branches  they 
are  about  to  pursue.  They  feel  that,  if  they  can 
acquire  that  kind  of  education  which  will  fit  them 
to  express  properly  what  they  know,  they  will  be 
of  more  use  to  the  community.  I must  say  that 
the  educated  mechanic  needs,  beyond  all  things, 
mathematics  as  a basis.  I never  have  believed 
in  the  u rule  of  thumb.”  I never  have  believed 
in  that  intuitive  perception  which  would  enable 
a person  to  shape  a machine  without  a knowledge 
of  the  laws  that  govern  matter  and  regulate  its 
durability.  For  my  part  I have  not  got  it.  I feel 
that,  step  by  step,  and  cautiously,  each  part  must 
be  measured  and  each  part  must  be  adapted  to  the 
purpose  for  which  it  is  to  be  used,  by  careful  ma- 
thematical calculation.  I notice  now,  talking  day 
by  day  to  the  students  who  are  attending  these 
halls,  that  that  kind  of  information  best  needed 
for  the  mechanic  is  being  imparted  to  them,  and 
at  the  same  time  I feel  that  they  are  getting  a 
taste  for  something  which  is  more  beautiful.  They 
have  awakened  in  them  the  poetry  of  words,  of 
art,  and  of  nature;  and  I can  see,  in  the  instruc- 
tion they  receive  in  the  earlier  part  of  their  career, 
when  they  enter  as  Freshmen,  and  while  their 
studies  run  parallel,  as  it  were,  with  the  tuition 


81 


imparted  to  those  designed  for  the  learned  profes- 
sions, that  they  there  learn  what  is  needed  to 
enable  them  to  properly  express  in  language 
what  they  may  afterwards  acquire  in  science. 

I can  hardly  find  words  to  express  the  respect 
and  esteem  I have  for  this  University.  I feel 
that  it  must  succeed.  I see  in  it  features  better 
than  in  any  institution  of  the  kind  in  the  world. 
And  I feel  confident  that  the  citizens  of  Philadel- 
phia will  come  forward  promptly  to  aid  the  gen- 
tlemen who  are  so  nobly  and  so  diligently  exert- 
ing themselves  to  perfect  this  great  school,  and 
give  them  the  means  to  make  it  a decided  success. 
(Great  applause.) 


- 


. 


H 


n 


mxotmn 


JOHN"  F.  FEAZEE,  LL.D. 


In  strange  and  mournful  contrast  with  the  joyful  con- 
gratulations which  were  expressed  on  all  sides  on  the 
day  of  the  inauguration  was  the  event  which  saddened 
all  hearts  on  the  succeeding  day — the  sudden  death  of 
Professor  Frazer.  He  had  seemed  to  be  in  unusual 
health  and  spirits  during  the  ceremonies,  and  on  the 
next  day  had  gone  to  the  University  to  complete  the 
arrangement  of  one  of  his  rooms.  While  entering  his 
cabinet  of  apparatus  he  fell  dead  without  a moment’s 
warning,  his  death  having  been  caused  by  disease  of  the 
heart.  Thus  died  one  whose  loss  to  the  University, 
especially  at  this  juncture,  is  well  nigh  irreparable.  His 
colleagues  of  the  two  Faculties  stand  awe-struck  by  the 
blow  which  has  deprived  them  of  one  who  was  not  only 
the  Senior  Professor  in  the  University,  but  also  one  of 
the  most  successful  teachers  of  physics  in  the  country ; 
the  world  of  science  mourns  the  loss  of  one  of  its  most 
brilliant  illustrations,  while  his  family  can  only  think  of 
him  as  the  kindest  and  most  devoted  of  husbands  and 
fathers. 

It  has  been  thought  appropriate  to  place  on  record 
here  the  action  of  the  two  Faculties  and  of  the  Alumni 
of  the  University,  on  the  occasion  of  Professor  Frazer’s 
death. 


84 


The  Faculties  of  Arts  and  of  Science  met  in  joint 
session  at  the  University,  Monday,  October  14. 

In  the  absence  of  Dr.  Stills,  occasioned  by  severe  ill- 
ness, Professor  Jackson,  being  called  to  the  chair,  stated 
the  mournful  event  which  had  called  them  together — 
the  death  of  the  oldest  member  of  the  Faculty. 

Professor  Allen,  LL.D.,  the  next  in  seniority  to  Pro- 
fessor Frazer,  spoke  with  much  feeling  of  the  loss  which 
they  had  sustained. 

Our  deceased  colleague,  he  said,  was  undoubtedly  one  of 
those  men  whom  we  spontaneously  recognize  as  unique. 
"With  the  liveliest  animal  spirits,  with  the  keenest  en- 
joyment at  the  same  time  of  out-of-door  activity  and 
of  elegant  society,  he  was  always,  even  at  the  gayest 
period  of  his  life,  an  enthusiastic  and  systematic  student. 
His  mind  was  quick  in  its  action  and  penetration  beyond 
example.  Ho  man  ever  mastered  a subject  more  rapidly, 
or  could  explain  it  more  clearly  or  gracefully  to  others. 
He  had  received  the  most  thorough  classical  training 
under  my  learned  predecessor,  the  venerable  Dr.  Wylie, 
and  did  not  merely  keep  up,  hut  constantly  extended, 
his  acquaintance  with  the  Greek  and  Latin  authors.  In 
some  departments  of  French  literature  he  was  also  a 
master.  As  a Professor  no  man  ever  performed  his 
duties  with  more  alacrity  and  energy,  or  with  more  per- 
fect command  of  his  subjects.  His  lectures  were  models. 
To  his  colleagues  he  was  a delightful  companion  and  a 
friend  ever  ready  to  oblige.  He  was  one  of  those  who 
attract  and  charm  by  an  irresistible  fascination.  While 
brilliant  in  society,  and  chivalrous  in  his  deportment 
towards  women,  he  attached  to  himself,  in  the  bonds 
of  solid  friendship,  many  whose  friendship  it  was  an 
honor  to  possess ; these  he  never  neglected  or  forgot, 
and  they  will  never  cease  to  cherish  his  memory. 

Rev.  Professor  Krauth,  D.D.,  spoke  of  his  brief  ac- 
quaintance with  the  deceased  as  inspiring  him  with  the 


85 


largest  respect  for  liis  range  of  thought  and  study,  and 
his  character  as  a thoughtful  and  serious  man.  He  had 
been  struck  especially  with  the  thorough  manliness  of 
Professor  Frazer’s  character.  All  the  world  knew  where 
to  find  him,  and  where  he  stood  on  every  question.  He 
was  especially  gratified  to  find  that  Professor  Frazer 
heartily  rejected  many  current  scientific  views,  which 
he  himself  regarded  as  loose  and  unsound. 

Professor  Lesley,  Dean  of  the  Faculty  of  Science, 
spoke  of  the  scientific  life  of  Professor  Frazer  as  recorded 
in  the  Journal  of  the  Franklin  Institute , a life  of  un- 
wearied industry  and  patient  thoroughness  of  research. 
He  was  not  a brilliant  discoverer,  hut  he  mastered  the 
labors  and  writings  of  every  class  that  bore  on  his  own 
work,  reading  omiiivorously  in  standard  and  periodical 
literature,  and  profiting  largely  by  his  thorough  mathe- 
matical training,  and  his  knowledge  of  French  and  Ger- 
man. He  grasped  science  in  its  vast  historical  develop- 
ment, holding  on  with  tenacity  against  mere  innovations 
to  the  assured  results  of  the  past,  and  yet  ever  ready  to 
admit  the  accuracy  of  new  views  and  the  superiority  of 
new  formulae.  In  this  historical  study  of  the  subject 
he  was  a fanatic  for  truth  and  righteousness.  He  spared 
no  pretender,  and  acknowledged  no  lines  of  nation  or 
party  in  his  zeal  to  secure  to  the  real  discoverer  and 
inventor  the  honor  that  was  his  due.  The  conscien- 
tiousness with  which  he  discharged  his  duties  here  left 
him  no  time  for  the  fresh  researches  and  the  public 
appearances,  which  would  have  added  so  much  to  his 
reputation,  hut  he  only  sacrificed  fame  to  usefulness. 
May  his  memory  bind  us  more  closely  to  each  other. 

After  a few  remarks  by  other  professors,  the  follow- 
ing resolutions,  offered  by  Professor  Allen,  were  seconded 
and  adopted : — 

Resolved , That,  as  a mark  of  respect  for  the  memory 
of  our  deceased  colleague,  the  exercises  of  the  Univer- 


86 


sity  be  suspended  until  the  day  after  the  funeral  cere- 
monies. 

Resolved , That  the  members  of  the  Faculties  of  Arts 
and  of  Science  attend  the  funeral  in  a body,  and  wear 
the  customary  badge  of  mourning  for  thirty  days. 

Resolved , That  the  chair  of  our  deceased  colleague,  in 
the  chapel,  be  draped  in  mourning  for  the  remainder  of 
the  present  term. 

Resolved , That  the  following  minute  be  entered  upon 
the  records  of  the  respective  Faculties,  and  that  it  be 
communicated  to  the  family  of  the  deceased,  with  the 
assurance  of  our  sincere  condolence  with  them  in  the 
great  loss  they  have  sustained:  “The  Faculties  of  Arts 
and  of  Science  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  have 
learned  with  the  deepest  regret  of  the  sudden  death  of 
their  colleague,  Professor  J.  F.  Frazer,  LL.D.,  and  desire 
to  record  their  appreciation  of  the  remarkable  accom- 
plishments of  the  deceased  in  science  and  in  literature, 
and  of  the  extraordinary  services  which  he  rendered  to 
the  University  during  the  more  than  twenty-eight  years 
of  his  professorship,  as  well  as  to  the  cause  of  sound 
learning  and  of  wholesome  and  manly  discipline.  Our 
close  and  intimate  relations  to  the  deceased  inspired  us 
with  the  liveliest  regard  for  him  as  a scholar  and  a gen- 
tleman, and  we  deeply  feel  his  loss  when  we  recall  his 
unmeasured  devotion  to  the  duties  of  his  department, 
his  zeal  for  the  interests  of  the  University  and  its 
students,  and  his  keen  insight  and  practical  wisdom  in 
all  matters  of  business.  We  unite  with  the  scientific 
men  of  the  whole  land  in  deploring  the  sudden  removal 
of  a teacher  and  a master  mind  in  the  department  of 
physical  science.” 


87 


A special  meeting  of  the  Society  of  the  Alumni  was 
held  October  15, 1872,  in  the  Chapel  of  the  University, 
to  take  action  upon  the  death  of  Professor  J no.  F.  Fra- 
zer, LL.D.,  of  the  Class  of  1880 ; Vice-President  Rev. 
Jno.  W.  Faires,  D.D.,  in  the  chair. 

The  Chairman  stated  the  object  of  the  meeting,  and 
spoke  of  the  deceased,  whom  he  had  known  for  many 
years.  He  narrated  many  incidents  of  the  early  life  of 
Professor  Frazer,  showing  the  early  development  of 
those  great  qualities  which  characterized  his  after  life. 

Dr.  John  Ashhurst,  Jr.,  offered  the  annexed  resolu- 
tions, which  were  unanimously  adopted. 

Thos.  A.  Biddle,  Esq.,  seconded  the  resolutions  in  a 
speech  highly  eulogistic  of  Professor  Frazer,  and  was 
followed,  in  similar  remarks,  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  James 
Clark  (a  classmate  of  Professor  Frazer),  Geo.  D.  Budd, 
Esq.,  Geo.  Harding,  Esq.,  Alfred  Stille,  M.D.,  and  the 
Rev.  Dr.  T.  W.  J.'  Wylie. 

The  Society  also  resolved  to  erect  in  the  Chapel  of  the 
University  a memorial  of  Professor  Frazer,  and  the  Chair- 
man was  instructed  to  appoint  a committee  of  five  to 
carry  out  the  resolution. 

The  following  gentlemen  were  appointed  members  of 
the  committee : T.  A.  Biddle,  Esq.,  Rev.  J.  W.  Robins, 
John  Ashhurst,  Jr.,  M.D.,  Rev.  T.  W.  J.  Wylie,  D.D., 
I.  Minis  Hays,  M.D. 


Resolutions  of  the  Alumni. 

Resolved , That,  by  the  death  of  our  lamented  friend 
and  associate,  Professor  John  F.  Frazer,  LL.D.,  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania  has  been  at  once  deprived 
of  one  of  her  most  eminent  sons  and  of  one  of  her  most 
distinguished  and  successful  teachers. 

Resolved , That,  as  Alumni  of  the  University,  we  feel 


88 


most  sensibly  that  by  this  sad  event  both  she  and  we 
have  sustained  a loss  which  is  well  nigh  irreparable. 

Resolved , That,  as  a teacher,  and  as  a man  of  science, 
Professor  Frazer  stood  alike  pre-eminent,  as  well  by  his 
brilliant  natural  abilities  as  by  his  profound  learning 
and  his  great  and  diversified  intellectual  and  philosophi- 
cal acquirements. 

Resolved , That,  by  his  personal  example,  by  the  gene- 
rous kindness  of  his  disposition,  by  his  high  sense  of 
honor,  by  his  hearty  love  and  enthusiastic  admiration 
for  what  was  noble  and  right,  and  by  his  manly  abhor- 
rence of  whatever  was  base  and  mean,  Professor  Frazer 
exercised  over  the  minds  of  his  students,  and  of  all 
with  whom  he  came  in  contact,  an  influence  as  excellent 
as  it  was  powerful  and  enduring. 

Resolved , That,  feeling  keenly  our  own  loss  of  a loved 
and  cherished  teacher  and  much  valued  friend,  we  can 
thus  more  sensibly  appreciate  the  yet  greater  and  sadder 
loss  sustained  by  his  bereaved  family,  to  whom  we  beg, 
hereby,  to  convey  the  assurance  of  our  most  respectful 
and  heartfelt  sympathy. 

JOIPN'  W.  F AIRES, 

Vice-President. 

J ohn  GT.  R.  McElroy, 

Recording  Secretary. 


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